FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Examination of Microcosm/Mesocosm Studies for Evaluating the Effects of Atrazine on Aquatic Plant Communities; Request for Nominations of Ad Hoc Expert Reviewers and Notice of Public Meeting, 17843-17845 [2023-06038]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 57 / Friday, March 24, 2023 / Notices
includes at his or her discretion. The
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in addition to those in the uniform
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Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2023–06115 Filed 3–23–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2023–0154; FRL–10803–01–
OCSPP]
FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel;
Examination of Microcosm/Mesocosm
Studies for Evaluating the Effects of
Atrazine on Aquatic Plant
Communities; Request for
Nominations of Ad Hoc Expert
Reviewers and Notice of Public
Meeting
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA or ‘‘Agency’’) is seeking
public nominations of scientific and
technical experts that EPA can consider
for service as ad hoc reviewers assisting
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory
SUMMARY:
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19:18 Mar 23, 2023
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Panel (FIFRA SAP) with the review of
the Agency’s reevaluation of 11 atrazine
microcosm and mesocosm studies
identified by the 2012 FIFRA SAP as
warranting further review. EPA
currently anticipates selecting
approximately 8–12 ad hoc reviewers
and plans to make a list of candidates
under consideration as prospective ad
hoc reviewers for this review available
for public comment by late May 2023.
EPA is also announcing that a virtual
public meeting of the FIFRA SAP is
being scheduled in August 2023. In July
2023, EPA plans to release the
reevaluation document submitted to the
FIFRA SAP for peer review, along with
all background documents, related
supporting materials and draft charge
questions provided to the FIFRA SAP.
At that time, EPA will publish a
separate document in the Federal
Register to announce the availability of
and solicit public comment on the draft
reevaluation document and provide
instructions for submitting comments
and registering to provide oral
comments at the August 2023 meeting.
DATES: The following is a chronological
listing of the dates for the specific
activities that are described in more
detail under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
April 24, 2023—Deadline for
submitting all nominations to EPA.
August 8, 2023—Deadline for
submitting a request for special
accommodations to allow EPA time to
process the request before the meeting.
August 22–24, 2023, from 10 a.m. to
approximately 5:30 p.m. (ET)—The
public virtual meeting will be held via
a webcast platform such as
‘‘Zoomgov.com’’ and audio
teleconference, and you must register to
receive the links.
ADDRESSES: Nominations: Submit your
nominations via email to the Designated
Federal Official (DFO) listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Special accommodations: For
information on meeting access or
services for individuals with
disabilities, and to request
accommodation for a disability, please
contact the DFO listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact the DFO, Tamue Gibson,
Mission Support Division, Office of
Program Support, Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention,
Environmental Protection Agency;
telephone number: (202) 564–7642 or
call the FIFRA SAP main office at (202)
564–8450; email address:
gibson.tamue@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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17843
I. General Information
A. What action is the Agency taking?
The Agency is seeking public
nominations of scientific and technical
experts that the EPA can consider for
service as ad hoc reviewers assisting the
FIFRA SAP with the review of the
Agency’s reevaluation of 11 atrazine
microcosm and mesocosm studies
identified by the 2012 FIFRA SAP as
warranting further review. The EPA is
also announcing the scheduling of a 3day public virtual meeting for the
FIFRA SAP to review the reevaluation
document. The EPA will be soliciting
comments from the FIFRA SAP on the
reanalysis document related to 11
microcosm and mesocosm studies
examining the toxicity of atrazine to the
exposed aquatic plant communities.
This document provides instructions
for submitting nominations for ad hoc
reviewers, requesting special
accommodations for the public virtual
meeting, and accessing the materials
provided to the FIFRA SAP. The EPA
will publish a separate document in the
Federal Register in early July 2023 to
announce the availability of and solicit
public comment on the reevalation
document, and to provide instructions
for submitting comments, and
registering to provide oral comments.
B. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public
in general.
C. What should I consider as I submit
my nominations to EPA?
1. Submitting Confidential Business
Information (CBI). Do not submit CBI or
other sensitive information to EPA
through https://www.regulations.gov or
email. If your nomination contains any
information that you consider to be CBI
or otherwise protected, please contact
the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT to obtain special
instructions before submitting that
information.
2. Tips for preparing comments.
When preparing and submitting your
comments, see Tips for Effective
Comments at https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
II. Nominations for Ad Hoc Reviewers
A. What is the purpose of the FIFRA
SAP?
The FIFRA SAP serves as one of the
primary scientific peer review
mechanisms of EPA’s Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention (OCSPP) and is structured to
provide independent scientific advice,
information, and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on pesticides
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
24MRN1
17844
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 57 / Friday, March 24, 2023 / Notices
and pesticide-related issues as to the
impact of regulatory actions on human
health and the environment. The FIFRA
SAP is a federal advisory committee
established in 1975 under FIFRA that
operates in accordance with
requirements of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10). The FIFRA
SAP is composed of a permanent panel
consisting of seven members who are
appointed by the EPA Administrator
from nominees provided by the National
Institutes of Health and the National
Science Foundation. FIFRA established
a Science Review Board consisting of at
least 60 scientists who are available to
the FIFRA SAP on an ad hoc basis to
assist in reviews conducted by the
FIFRA SAP. As a scientific peer review
mechanism, the FIFRA SAP provides
comments, evaluations, and
recommendations to improve the
effectiveness and quality of analyses
made by Agency scientists. Members of
the FIFRA SAP are scientists who have
sufficient professional qualifications,
including training and experience, to
provide expert advice and
recommendation to the Agency.
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B. Why is EPA seeking nominations for
ad hoc reviewers?
As part of a broader process for
developing a pool of candidates for
FIFRA SAP peer reviews, EPA is asking
the public and stakeholder communities
for nominations of scientific and
technical experts that EPA can consider
as prospective candidates for service as
ad hoc reviewers assisting the FIFRA
SAP with the peer reviews. Any
interested person or organization may
nominate qualified individuals for
consideration as prospective candidates
for this review by following the
instructions provided in this document.
Individuals may also self-nominate.
Those who are selected from the pool
of prospective candidates will be
invited to attend the public meeting and
to participate in the discussion of key
issues and assumptions at the meeting.
In addition, they will be asked to review
and to help finalize the meeting
minutes.
C. What expertise is sought for this peer
review?
Individuals nominated for this FIFRA
SAP peer review, should have expertise
in one or more of the following areas:
Aquatic Plant Community Ecology;
Aquatic Community Ecology; Plant
Community Ecology; Algae Community
Ecology; Aquatic Plant Ecology; Aquatic
Toxicity; Ecotoxicity; Plant Toxicity;
Algae Toxicity; and Mesocosm and
Microcosm Experiments. Nominees
should be scientists who have sufficient
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19:18 Mar 23, 2023
Jkt 259001
professional qualifications, including
training and experience, to be capable of
providing expert comments on the
scientific issues for this review.
D. How do I make a nomination?
By the deadline indicated under
DATES, submit your nomination to the
DFO listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Each nomination
should include the following
information: Contact information for the
person making the nomination; name,
affiliation, and contact information for
the nominee; and the disciplinary and
specific areas of expertise of the
nominee.
E. Will ad hoc reviewers be subjected to
an ethics review?
FIFRA SAP members and ad hoc
reviewers are subject to the provisions
of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for
Employees of the Executive Branch at 5
CFR part 2635, conflict of interest
statutes in Title 18 of the United States
Code and related regulations. In
anticipation of this requirement,
prospective candidates for service on
the FIFRA SAP will be asked to submit
confidential financial information
which shall fully disclose, among other
financial interests, the candidate’s
employment, stocks and bonds,
testimonies, and where applicable,
sources of research support. EPA will
evaluate the candidates’ financial
disclosure information to assess
whether there are financial conflicts of
interest, appearance of a loss of
impartiality, or any prior involvement
with the development of the documents
under consideration (including previous
scientific peer review) before the
candidate is considered further for
selection and service on the FIFRA SAP.
F. How will EPA select the ad hoc
reviewers?
The selection of scientists to serve as
ad hoc reviewers for the FIFRA SAP is
based on the function of the Panel and
the expertise needed to address the
Agency’s charge to the Panel. No
interested scientists shall be ineligible
to serve by reason of their membership
on any other advisory committee to a
federal department or Agency or their
employment by a federal department or
Agency, except EPA. Other factors
considered during the selection process
include availability of the prospective
candidate to fully participate in the
Panel’s reviews, absence of any conflicts
of interest or appearance of loss of
impartiality, independence with respect
to the matters under review, and lack of
bias. Although financial conflicts of
interest, the appearance of loss of
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impartiality, lack of independence, and
bias may result in non-selection, the
absence of such concerns does not
assure that a candidate will be selected
to serve on the FIFRA SAP.
Numerous qualified candidates are
often identified for FIFRA SAP reviews.
Therefore, selection decisions involve
carefully weighing a number of factors
including the candidates’ areas of
expertise and professional qualifications
and achieving an overall balance of
different scientific perspectives across
reviewers. The Agency will consider all
nominations of prospective candidates
for service as ad hoc reviewers for the
FIFRA SAP that are received on or
before the date listed in the DATES
section of this document. However, final
selection of ad hoc reviewers is a
discretionary function of the Agency. At
this time, EPA anticipates selecting
approximately 8–12 ad hoc reviewers to
assist the FIFRA SAP in their review of
the designated topic.
The EPA plans to make a list of
candidates under consideration as
prospective ad hoc reviewers for this
review available for public comment by
late-May 2023. The list will be available
in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OPP–2023–0154) and on the
FIFRA SAP website. You may also
subscribe to the following listserv for
alerts regarding this and other FIFRA
SAP-related activities: https://
public.govdelivery.com/accounts/
USAEPAOPPT/subscriber/new?topic_
id=USAEPAOPPT_101.T.
III. Public Virtual Meeting of the FIFRA
SAP
A. What is the purpose of this public
meeting?
The focus of the 3-day public virtual
meeting is to seek the FIFRA SAP’s
input on the Agency’s 2023 reevaluation
of 11 atrazine microcosm and mesocosm
(hereafter ‘cosm’) studies identified at
the 2012 SAP meeting as warranting
further review. The Agency would like
the FIFRA SAP’s feedback on its
evaluation of these 11 cosm studies,
their potential inclusion or exclusion in
the analysis, and if appropriate, whether
they show an effect or no effect on the
aquatic plant community.
B. Why did EPA develop this document?
The EPA participated in several
FIFRA SAP meetings related to
atrazine’s impact on the environment
(e.g., 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012). In June
2012, the EPA presented the Problem
Formulation for the Environmental Fate
and Ecological Risk Assessment for
Atrazine to the FIFRA SAP. That
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 57 / Friday, March 24, 2023 / Notices
problem formulation provided an
overview of atrazine use, exposure, and
toxicity for assessing the ecological risk
from atrazine use. One of the major
considerations for the 2012 FIFRA SAP
was the process that the EPA used to
estimate an aquatic plant communitybased concentration equivalent-level of
concern (CE–LOC). The CE–LOC is a 60day average concentration of atrazine
that, when exceeded, presents a greater
than 50 percent chance of negatively
affecting the productivity, structure,
and/or function of an aquatic plant
community.
Cosm studies examining the toxicity
of atrazine to aquatic plant communities
are a significant part of the process to
estimate the CE–LOC. Accordingly, from
2002 to 2016, the EPA considered over
70 cosm studies obtained from the open
literature or submitted to the EPA. The
2012 FIFRA SAP identified 11 specific
cosm studies from that dataset (Table 1,
page 42–43 of the meeting report) as
warranting further review (in terms of
their inclusion/exclusion in the analysis
or the effect/no effect determinations for
specific measured endpoints) because of
concerns about study design or
performance flaws, as well as the
interpretation of results.
In response to the 2012 FIFRA SAP,
the EPA re-evaluated the 11 specific
cosm studies identified by the FIFRA
SAP and presented this re-evaluation in
the 2013 ‘‘Addendum to the Problem
Formulation for the Ecological Risk
Assessment to be Conducted for the
Registration Review of Atrazine’’
(https://www.regulations.gov/document/
EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266-0002) and the
2016 ‘‘Refined Ecological Risk
Assessment for Atrazine.’’ (https://
www.regulations.gov/document/EPAHQ-OPP-2013-0266-0315). In
conducting this 2013/2016 reevaluation, the EPA considered
comments from the 2012 FIFRA SAP
and the public. This re-evaluation did
not result in a change in the Agency’s
understanding or interpretation of those
11 studies. After the issuance of the
2016 ecological risk assessment and the
2022 ‘‘Proposed Revisions to the
Atrazine Interim Registration Review
Decision,’’ the EPA received additional
public comments about the 11 studies
including a reminder that the EPA had
stated in 2016 its intent to convene a
FIFRA SAP meeting, along with
renewed requests to convene a FIFRA
SAP meeting regarding the studies.
The EPA is returning to the FIFRA
SAP to seek feedback on the outcome of
the EPA’s new 2023 evaluation
regarding the inclusion of the 11
studies, and if appropriate, effect/no
effect determinations for specific
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17845
measured endpoints from the studies
that were identified by the 2012 FIFRA
SAP.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
C. How can I access the documents
submitted for review to the FIFRA SAP?
[EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0439; FRL–10832–01–
OMS]
The EPA is planning to release the
reevaluation document mentioned
previously and all background
documents, related supporting
materials, and draft charge questions
provided to the FIFRA SAP by early July
2023. At that time, EPA will publish a
separate document in the Federal
Register to announce the availability of
and solicit public comment on the draft
document and provide instructions for
submitting comments and registering to
provide oral comments. These materials
will also be available in the docket
through https://www.regulations.gov
(Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OPP–2023–
0154) and the FIFRA SAP website. In
addition, as additional background
materials become available and are
provided to the FIFRA SAP, EPA will
include those additional background
documents (e.g., FIFRA SAP members
and consultants participating in this
meeting and the meeting agenda) in the
docket and on the FIFRA SAP website.
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts,
Chemical, and Radionuclides Rules
(Renewal)
D. How can I participate in the public
virtual meeting?
The public virtual meeting will be
held via a webcast platform such as
‘‘Zoomgov.com’’ and audio
teleconference. You must register online
to receive the webcast meeting link and
audio teleconference information.
Please follow the registration
instructions that will be announced on
the FIFRA SAP website in July 2023.
You may subscribe to the following
listserv for alerts regarding this and
other FIFRA SAP-related activities:
https://public.govdelivery.com/
accounts/USAEPAOPPT/subscriber/
new?topic_id=USAEPAOPPT_101.T.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 10; 7 U.S.C. 136 et
seq.; 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 2023.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023–06038 Filed 3–23–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has submitted an
information collection request (ICR),
‘‘Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts,
Chemical, and Radionuclides Rules’’
(EPA ICR Number 1896.12, OMB
Control Number 2040–0204) to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act. This is a proposed
extension of the ICR, which is currently
approved through March 31, 2023.
Public comments were previously
requested via the Federal Register on
December 15, 2021 during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for
an additional 30 days for public
comments.
SUMMARY:
Comments may be submitted on
or before April 24, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
HQ–OW–2011–0442, to EPA online
using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by email to OWDocket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460. EPA’s policy is
that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without
change including any personal
information provided, unless the
comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
Submit written comments and
recommendations to OMB for the
proposed information collection within
30 days of publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
30-day Review—Open for Public
Comments’’ or by using the search
function.
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17843-17845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06038]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0154; FRL-10803-01-OCSPP]
FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Examination of Microcosm/
Mesocosm Studies for Evaluating the Effects of Atrazine on Aquatic
Plant Communities; Request for Nominations of Ad Hoc Expert Reviewers
and Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or ``Agency'') is
seeking public nominations of scientific and technical experts that EPA
can consider for service as ad hoc reviewers assisting the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel
(FIFRA SAP) with the review of the Agency's reevaluation of 11 atrazine
microcosm and mesocosm studies identified by the 2012 FIFRA SAP as
warranting further review. EPA currently anticipates selecting
approximately 8-12 ad hoc reviewers and plans to make a list of
candidates under consideration as prospective ad hoc reviewers for this
review available for public comment by late May 2023. EPA is also
announcing that a virtual public meeting of the FIFRA SAP is being
scheduled in August 2023. In July 2023, EPA plans to release the
reevaluation document submitted to the FIFRA SAP for peer review, along
with all background documents, related supporting materials and draft
charge questions provided to the FIFRA SAP. At that time, EPA will
publish a separate document in the Federal Register to announce the
availability of and solicit public comment on the draft reevaluation
document and provide instructions for submitting comments and
registering to provide oral comments at the August 2023 meeting.
DATES: The following is a chronological listing of the dates for the
specific activities that are described in more detail under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
April 24, 2023--Deadline for submitting all nominations to EPA.
August 8, 2023--Deadline for submitting a request for special
accommodations to allow EPA time to process the request before the
meeting.
August 22-24, 2023, from 10 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m. (ET)--
The public virtual meeting will be held via a webcast platform such as
``Zoomgov.com'' and audio teleconference, and you must register to
receive the links.
ADDRESSES: Nominations: Submit your nominations via email to the
Designated Federal Official (DFO) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Special accommodations: For information on meeting access or
services for individuals with disabilities, and to request
accommodation for a disability, please contact the DFO listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the DFO, Tamue Gibson, Mission
Support Division, Office of Program Support, Office of Chemical Safety
and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency; telephone
number: (202) 564-7642 or call the FIFRA SAP main office at (202) 564-
8450; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. What action is the Agency taking?
The Agency is seeking public nominations of scientific and
technical experts that the EPA can consider for service as ad hoc
reviewers assisting the FIFRA SAP with the review of the Agency's
reevaluation of 11 atrazine microcosm and mesocosm studies identified
by the 2012 FIFRA SAP as warranting further review. The EPA is also
announcing the scheduling of a 3-day public virtual meeting for the
FIFRA SAP to review the reevaluation document. The EPA will be
soliciting comments from the FIFRA SAP on the reanalysis document
related to 11 microcosm and mesocosm studies examining the toxicity of
atrazine to the exposed aquatic plant communities.
This document provides instructions for submitting nominations for
ad hoc reviewers, requesting special accommodations for the public
virtual meeting, and accessing the materials provided to the FIFRA SAP.
The EPA will publish a separate document in the Federal Register in
early July 2023 to announce the availability of and solicit public
comment on the reevalation document, and to provide instructions for
submitting comments, and registering to provide oral comments.
B. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general.
C. What should I consider as I submit my nominations to EPA?
1. Submitting Confidential Business Information (CBI). Do not
submit CBI or other sensitive information to EPA through https://www.regulations.gov or email. If your nomination contains any
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected, please
contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to obtain
special instructions before submitting that information.
2. Tips for preparing comments. When preparing and submitting your
comments, see Tips for Effective Comments at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
II. Nominations for Ad Hoc Reviewers
A. What is the purpose of the FIFRA SAP?
The FIFRA SAP serves as one of the primary scientific peer review
mechanisms of EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
(OCSPP) and is structured to provide independent scientific advice,
information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on pesticides
[[Page 17844]]
and pesticide-related issues as to the impact of regulatory actions on
human health and the environment. The FIFRA SAP is a federal advisory
committee established in 1975 under FIFRA that operates in accordance
with requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10).
The FIFRA SAP is composed of a permanent panel consisting of seven
members who are appointed by the EPA Administrator from nominees
provided by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science
Foundation. FIFRA established a Science Review Board consisting of at
least 60 scientists who are available to the FIFRA SAP on an ad hoc
basis to assist in reviews conducted by the FIFRA SAP. As a scientific
peer review mechanism, the FIFRA SAP provides comments, evaluations,
and recommendations to improve the effectiveness and quality of
analyses made by Agency scientists. Members of the FIFRA SAP are
scientists who have sufficient professional qualifications, including
training and experience, to provide expert advice and recommendation to
the Agency.
B. Why is EPA seeking nominations for ad hoc reviewers?
As part of a broader process for developing a pool of candidates
for FIFRA SAP peer reviews, EPA is asking the public and stakeholder
communities for nominations of scientific and technical experts that
EPA can consider as prospective candidates for service as ad hoc
reviewers assisting the FIFRA SAP with the peer reviews. Any interested
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for
consideration as prospective candidates for this review by following
the instructions provided in this document. Individuals may also self-
nominate.
Those who are selected from the pool of prospective candidates will
be invited to attend the public meeting and to participate in the
discussion of key issues and assumptions at the meeting. In addition,
they will be asked to review and to help finalize the meeting minutes.
C. What expertise is sought for this peer review?
Individuals nominated for this FIFRA SAP peer review, should have
expertise in one or more of the following areas: Aquatic Plant
Community Ecology; Aquatic Community Ecology; Plant Community Ecology;
Algae Community Ecology; Aquatic Plant Ecology; Aquatic Toxicity;
Ecotoxicity; Plant Toxicity; Algae Toxicity; and Mesocosm and Microcosm
Experiments. Nominees should be scientists who have sufficient
professional qualifications, including training and experience, to be
capable of providing expert comments on the scientific issues for this
review.
D. How do I make a nomination?
By the deadline indicated under DATES, submit your nomination to
the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Each nomination
should include the following information: Contact information for the
person making the nomination; name, affiliation, and contact
information for the nominee; and the disciplinary and specific areas of
expertise of the nominee.
E. Will ad hoc reviewers be subjected to an ethics review?
FIFRA SAP members and ad hoc reviewers are subject to the
provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the
Executive Branch at 5 CFR part 2635, conflict of interest statutes in
Title 18 of the United States Code and related regulations. In
anticipation of this requirement, prospective candidates for service on
the FIFRA SAP will be asked to submit confidential financial
information which shall fully disclose, among other financial
interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, testimonies,
and where applicable, sources of research support. EPA will evaluate
the candidates' financial disclosure information to assess whether
there are financial conflicts of interest, appearance of a loss of
impartiality, or any prior involvement with the development of the
documents under consideration (including previous scientific peer
review) before the candidate is considered further for selection and
service on the FIFRA SAP.
F. How will EPA select the ad hoc reviewers?
The selection of scientists to serve as ad hoc reviewers for the
FIFRA SAP is based on the function of the Panel and the expertise
needed to address the Agency's charge to the Panel. No interested
scientists shall be ineligible to serve by reason of their membership
on any other advisory committee to a federal department or Agency or
their employment by a federal department or Agency, except EPA. Other
factors considered during the selection process include availability of
the prospective candidate to fully participate in the Panel's reviews,
absence of any conflicts of interest or appearance of loss of
impartiality, independence with respect to the matters under review,
and lack of bias. Although financial conflicts of interest, the
appearance of loss of impartiality, lack of independence, and bias may
result in non-selection, the absence of such concerns does not assure
that a candidate will be selected to serve on the FIFRA SAP.
Numerous qualified candidates are often identified for FIFRA SAP
reviews. Therefore, selection decisions involve carefully weighing a
number of factors including the candidates' areas of expertise and
professional qualifications and achieving an overall balance of
different scientific perspectives across reviewers. The Agency will
consider all nominations of prospective candidates for service as ad
hoc reviewers for the FIFRA SAP that are received on or before the date
listed in the DATES section of this document. However, final selection
of ad hoc reviewers is a discretionary function of the Agency. At this
time, EPA anticipates selecting approximately 8-12 ad hoc reviewers to
assist the FIFRA SAP in their review of the designated topic.
The EPA plans to make a list of candidates under consideration as
prospective ad hoc reviewers for this review available for public
comment by late-May 2023. The list will be available in the docket at
https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0154) and on
the FIFRA SAP website. You may also subscribe to the following listserv
for alerts regarding this and other FIFRA SAP-related activities:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USAEPAOPPT/subscriber/new?topic_id=USAEPAOPPT_101.T.
III. Public Virtual Meeting of the FIFRA SAP
A. What is the purpose of this public meeting?
The focus of the 3-day public virtual meeting is to seek the FIFRA
SAP's input on the Agency's 2023 reevaluation of 11 atrazine microcosm
and mesocosm (hereafter `cosm') studies identified at the 2012 SAP
meeting as warranting further review. The Agency would like the FIFRA
SAP's feedback on its evaluation of these 11 cosm studies, their
potential inclusion or exclusion in the analysis, and if appropriate,
whether they show an effect or no effect on the aquatic plant
community.
B. Why did EPA develop this document?
The EPA participated in several FIFRA SAP meetings related to
atrazine's impact on the environment (e.g., 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012). In
June 2012, the EPA presented the Problem Formulation for the
Environmental Fate and Ecological Risk Assessment for Atrazine to the
FIFRA SAP. That
[[Page 17845]]
problem formulation provided an overview of atrazine use, exposure, and
toxicity for assessing the ecological risk from atrazine use. One of
the major considerations for the 2012 FIFRA SAP was the process that
the EPA used to estimate an aquatic plant community-based concentration
equivalent-level of concern (CE-LOC). The CE-LOC is a 60-day average
concentration of atrazine that, when exceeded, presents a greater than
50 percent chance of negatively affecting the productivity, structure,
and/or function of an aquatic plant community.
Cosm studies examining the toxicity of atrazine to aquatic plant
communities are a significant part of the process to estimate the CE-
LOC. Accordingly, from 2002 to 2016, the EPA considered over 70 cosm
studies obtained from the open literature or submitted to the EPA. The
2012 FIFRA SAP identified 11 specific cosm studies from that dataset
(Table 1, page 42-43 of the meeting report) as warranting further
review (in terms of their inclusion/exclusion in the analysis or the
effect/no effect determinations for specific measured endpoints)
because of concerns about study design or performance flaws, as well as
the interpretation of results.
In response to the 2012 FIFRA SAP, the EPA re-evaluated the 11
specific cosm studies identified by the FIFRA SAP and presented this
re-evaluation in the 2013 ``Addendum to the Problem Formulation for the
Ecological Risk Assessment to be Conducted for the Registration Review
of Atrazine'' (https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266-0002) and the 2016 ``Refined Ecological Risk Assessment for
Atrazine.'' (https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266-0315). In conducting this 2013/2016 re-evaluation, the EPA considered
comments from the 2012 FIFRA SAP and the public. This re-evaluation did
not result in a change in the Agency's understanding or interpretation
of those 11 studies. After the issuance of the 2016 ecological risk
assessment and the 2022 ``Proposed Revisions to the Atrazine Interim
Registration Review Decision,'' the EPA received additional public
comments about the 11 studies including a reminder that the EPA had
stated in 2016 its intent to convene a FIFRA SAP meeting, along with
renewed requests to convene a FIFRA SAP meeting regarding the studies.
The EPA is returning to the FIFRA SAP to seek feedback on the
outcome of the EPA's new 2023 evaluation regarding the inclusion of the
11 studies, and if appropriate, effect/no effect determinations for
specific measured endpoints from the studies that were identified by
the 2012 FIFRA SAP.
C. How can I access the documents submitted for review to the FIFRA
SAP?
The EPA is planning to release the reevaluation document mentioned
previously and all background documents, related supporting materials,
and draft charge questions provided to the FIFRA SAP by early July
2023. At that time, EPA will publish a separate document in the Federal
Register to announce the availability of and solicit public comment on
the draft document and provide instructions for submitting comments and
registering to provide oral comments. These materials will also be
available in the docket through https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0154) and the FIFRA SAP website. In addition, as
additional background materials become available and are provided to
the FIFRA SAP, EPA will include those additional background documents
(e.g., FIFRA SAP members and consultants participating in this meeting
and the meeting agenda) in the docket and on the FIFRA SAP website.
D. How can I participate in the public virtual meeting?
The public virtual meeting will be held via a webcast platform such
as ``Zoomgov.com'' and audio teleconference. You must register online
to receive the webcast meeting link and audio teleconference
information. Please follow the registration instructions that will be
announced on the FIFRA SAP website in July 2023. You may subscribe to
the following listserv for alerts regarding this and other FIFRA SAP-
related activities: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USAEPAOPPT/subscriber/new?topic_id=USAEPAOPPT_101.T.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 10; 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.; 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 2023.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-06038 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
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