[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15785-15787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06860]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0059; FRL-9923-76]
Registration Review Proposed Interim Decisions; Notice of
Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed
interim registration review decisions on certain pesticides and opens a
public comment period on the proposed interim decisions. 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, that the pesticide can perform its intended
function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the
environment. 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.March 25, 2015
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the docket
identification (ID) number for the specific pesticide of interest
provided in the table in Unit II., by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://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.
Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For pesticide specific information, contact: The Chemical Review
Manager for the pesticide of interest identified in the table in Unit
II.
For general information on the registration review program,
contact: Richard Dumas, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P),
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(703) 308-8015; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, farm worker, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry;
pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the sale,
distribution, or use of pesticides.
[[Page 15786]]
Since others also may be interested, the Agency has not attempted to
describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action.
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to
a particular entity, consult the Chemical Review Manager for the
pesticide of interest identified in the table in Unit II.
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
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 http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.58, this notice announces the availability
of EPA's proposed interim registration review decisions for the
pesticides shown in the following table, and opens a 60-day public
comment period on the proposed interim decisions.
Table--Registration Review Proposed Interim Decisions
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Chemical review
Registration review case name Pesticide Docket manager, telephone
and No. ID No. No., email address
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Debacarb (2-EEEBC) (Case 4031) EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0 Roy Johnson, 703-347-
802. 0492,
[email protected].
Maleic Hydrazide (Case 0381).. EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0 Ricardo Jones, 703-
387. 347-0493,
[email protected].
Soap Salts (Case 4083)........ EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0 Eric Miederhoff, 703-
519. 347-8028
[email protected].
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Debacarb (2-EEEBC) (Proposed Interim Decision). Debacarb is a
fungicide registered for use to control certain diseases in ornamental
trees. The fungicide is applied to mature trees by injection through
the trunk. EPA has completed a draft ecological risk assessment,
including a screening-level listed species assessment. A human health
risk assessment is not needed because the method of application limits
the possibility for applicator or other human exposure. Direct adverse
effects are not expected for birds, reptiles, terrestrial-phase
amphibians, mammals, and terrestrial plants. The Agency has made a No
Effects (NE) determination for all federally-listed species within
these groups and a No Habitat Modification determination for all
designated critical habitats associated with these species for the
currently registered uses of debacarb. Risks currently cannot be
precluded for aquatic receptors and terrestrial invertebrates. At this
time, to eliminate uncertainty and reduce potential risks to non-listed
aquatic species, the Agency is proposing restrictions on application to
trees near waterbodies. To reduce uncertainty and potential risks to
insect pollinators, the Agency is proposing that applications to trees
be limited to the post-bloom period. This proposed interim decision
does not cover the Endocrine Disruptor Screening program (EDSP)
component of this registration review case, nor does it provide a
complete Endangered Species assessment (ESA) for debacarb. However,
pending the outcome of this action, the EPA is planning to issue an
interim registration review decision for debacarb.
Maleic Hydrazide (Proposed Interim Decision). The registration
review docket for maleic hydrazide (EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0387) opened in
September 2009. Maleic hydrazide is a systemic plant growth regulator
registered for use on tobacco, potato, onions, non-bearing citrus,
turf, utility and highway rights-of-way, airports, industrial land,
lawns, recreational areas, ornamental/shade trees and ornamental
plants. Uses include residential use on turf and lawns as a perimeter
or spot treatment. EPA published draft human health and ecological risk
assessments in July 2014. No human health risks of concern were
identified. The Agency also completed an ecological risk assessment.
The results of this quantitative risk assessment indicates that the
currently labeled rates of maleic hydrazide pose a potential for risk
to non-target terrestrial birds and terrestrial invertebrates. In
addition, applications may impact sensitive species of semi-aquatic and
terrestrial monocotyledonous plants (monocots). The Agency completed a
screening-level ESA and made a ``no effects'' determination for the
following taxa: Aquatic plants and aquatic freshwater and estuarine/
marine organisms. For all other species applications ``may affect'' or
are uncertain. Maleic hydrazide has not been evaluated under the EDSP
nor has it completed ESA section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Marine and Fisheries Service
(Services). Therefore, the Agency's final registration review decision
is dependent upon the result of the evaluation of potential endocrine
disruptor risk and consultation with the Services for endangered
species. Pending the outcome of this action, the EPA is planning to
issue an interim registration review decision for maleic hydrazide.
Soap Salts (Proposed Interim Decision). The registration review
docket for soap salts (EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0519) opened in September 2008.
Soap Salts are used as acaricides, herbicides, and insecticides on food
and non-food crops in various settings, chiefly residential and
agricultural. Ammonium and sodium soap salts are also used as animal
repellants. EPA published draft human health and ecological risk
assessments in March 2013. EPA conducted a human health risk assessment
and did not identify any risks of concern. No human health mitigation
is being proposed by the Agency for the soap salts at this time. The
Agency also conducted an ecological risk assessment for the current
uses of the soap salts. The screening-level risk assessment did find
the potential for minor risk to terrestrial plants and aquatic
organisms from the use of potassium and ammonium salts. However, the
Agency believes there is little actual risk to non-target plants
exposed to soap salts due to the rapid degradation of soap salts in
surface water runoff, which was not accounted for in the risk
assessment model, and the inherent insolubility and low toxicity of the
soap salts. Therefore, the Agency has no risk concerns from the
terrestrial or aquatic assessments and is
[[Page 15787]]
not proposing ecological risk mitigation at this time. The Agency also
completed a screening-level endangered and threatened (listed) species
assessment for soap salts and identified potential risks to several
taxa: Freshwater invertebrates, estuarine/marine invertebrates, and
terrestrial plants. However, at this time in registration review, it is
premature to make an endangered species effects determination for
federally listed species and their designated critical habitats under
ESA. Also, the soap salts have not yet been evaluated under the EDSP.
Therefore, the Agency's final registration review decision is dependent
upon the results of the evaluation of risks to threatened and
endangered species and of potential endocrine disruptor risk. Pending
the outcome of this action, the EPA is planning to issue an interim
registration review decision for the soap salts.
The registration review docket for a pesticide includes earlier
documents related to the registration review of the case. For example,
the review opened with a Summary Document, containing a Preliminary
Work Plan, for public comment. A Final Work Plan was placed in the
docket following public comment on the initial docket. The documents in
the docket describe EPA's rationales for conducting additional risk
assessments, as well as the Agency's subsequent risk findings and
consideration of possible risk mitigation measures. A proposed interim
registration review decision is supported by the rationales included in
those documents. Following public comment on a proposed decision, the
Agency will issue interim registration review decisions for products
containing the pesticides listed in the table in Unit II.
The registration review program is being conducted under
congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both
to make timely decisions and to involve the public. Section 3(g) of the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C.
136a(g)) required EPA to establish by regulation procedures for
reviewing pesticide registrations, originally with a goal of reviewing
each pesticide's registration every 15 years to ensure that a pesticide
continues to meet the FIFRA standard for registration. The Agency's
final rule to implement this program was issued in August 2006 and
became effective in October 2006, and appears at 40 CFR part 155,
subpart C. The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2003 (PRIA)
was amended and extended in September 2007. FIFRA, as amended by PRIA
in 2007, requires EPA to complete registration review decisions by
October 1, 2022, for all pesticides registered as of October 1, 2007.
The registration review final rule at 40 CFR 155.58(a) provides for
a minimum 60-day public comment period on all proposed interim
registration review decisions. This comment period is intended to
provide an opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating
any necessary amendments to the proposed interim decision. All comments
should be submitted using the methods in ADDRESSES, and must be
received by EPA on or before the closing date. These comments will
become part of the docket for the pesticides included in the table in
Unit II. Comments received after the close of the comment period will
be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these late
comments.
The Agency will carefully consider all comments received by the
closing date and will provide a ``Response to Comments Memorandum'' in
the docket as appropriate. The final registration review decision will
explain the effect that any comments had on the decision.
Background on the registration review program is provided at:
http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-reevaluation. Links to earlier documents
related to the registration review of these pesticides are provided at:
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/reg_review_status.htm.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: March 17, 2015.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-06860 Filed 3-24-15; 8:45 am]
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