Environmental Protection Agency April 22, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft ecological risk assessments for the registration review of both clomazone and fomesafen and opens a public comment period on these documents. At the same time, EPA is initiating consultation for clomazone and fomesafen with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding potential effects to species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. As part of the registration review process, the Agency has completed comprehensive draft ecological risk assessments, including endangered species effects determinations, for all clomazone and fomesafen uses. After reviewing comments received during the public comment period, EPA will issue final risk assessments, explain any changes from the draft risk assessments, and respond to comments. Once the ecological risk assessments have been finalized, the Agency will issue its proposed registration review decisions for these pesticides and seek public comment on any proposed risk mitigation. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment.

Under Section 122(h)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency has entered into a settlement for reimbursement of past response costs concerning the Helmet Products Fire Superfund Site located in Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia for publication.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet the Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) moderate 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. EPA is also proposing to approve the RFP motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) and the 2002 Base Year Emission Inventory associated with the revision. EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision because it satisfies the RFP and Emissions Inventory requirements for 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas classified as moderate, and demonstrates further progress in reducing ozone precursors. EPA is proposing to approve the revision pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA and EPA's regulations.

In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of request for amendments by registrants to delete uses in certain pesticide registrations. Section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA provides that a registrant of a pesticide product may at any time request that any of its pesticide registrations be amended to delete one or more uses. FIFRA further provides that, before acting on the request, EPA must publish a notice of receipt of any request in the Federal Register.