Environmental Protection Agency December 24, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee (MSTRS). Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by October 2015. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the microbial insecticide Beauveria bassiana strain ANT-03 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Technology Sciences Group, Inc., agent for Anatis Bioprotection Inc., submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Beauveria bassiana strain ANT-03.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of October 22, 2014, concerning the assessment the Agency conducted as part of its ongoing re-evaluation of clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam under the registration review program. This assessment examines the use of clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam seed treatments in terms of the extent of use and the pests targeted in order to characterize overall benefits to soybean production nationwide. In response to requests, the EPA is reopening the public comment period of EPA's analysis of Benefits of Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments to Soybean Production. This document reopens the comment period for 30 days to January 23, 2015.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft human health and ecological risk assessments for the registration reviews of bentazon, daminozide, and d-limonene and opens a public comment period on these documents. 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 for each case, the Agency has drafted a human health and ecological risk assessment for all uses of the previously listed pesticide chemicals. The ecological risk assessment includes or will include an assessment of risks to listed species, and the human health and ecological risk assessments includes or will include a determination of endocrine disrupter effects for the case. After reviewing comments received during the public comment period, EPA may issue revised risk assessments, explain any changes to the draft risk assessments, and respond to comments. The Agency also will request public input on any proposed risk mitigation measures before completing proposed registration review decisions for the previously listed pesticide chemicals. 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.