[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14936-14937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8072]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-181058; FRL-5780-4]


Triazamate; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption; 
Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the 
Washington Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the 
``Applicant'') to use the pesticide triazamate (CAS 112143-82-5) to 
treat up to 5,000 acres of true fir Christmas trees to control root 
aphids.
    The Applicant proposes the use of a new (unregistered) chemical. 
Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public 
comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the 
exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 13, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification 
notation ``OPP-18058 ,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and 
Division (7502), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments 
to: Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, 
VA.

    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically to: opp-
[email protected]. Follow the instruction under ``SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.'' No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be 
submitted through e-mail.
    Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as 
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be included in the 
public record by EPA without prior notice. The public docket is 
available for public inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Stephen Schaible, 
Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460. 
Office location and telephone number: Floor 2, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703-308-9362); e-mail: 
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:. Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), 
the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a state agency from 
any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require such exemption. The Applicant has 
requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use 
of triazamate on true fir Christmas trees to control root aphids. 
Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of 
this request.
    According to the Applicant, the root aphid is not new to the 
Northwest, but has only recently been identified as posing a serious 
economic threat to true fir Christmas tree plantations. Root aphids 
feed on the roots of true fir trees, causing stunting and color loss in 
the foliage, and increasing susceptibility to disease. Losses extend 
from the first year through the life of the plantation. Attempts to 
chemically control the aphids during the winged stage during migration 
to and from fir trees have not been successful. Foliar and soil drench 
applications of several insecticides have also been tested, with none 
being adequately successful.
    Under the proposed exemption, a maximum of two applications, at 
least 30 days apart and when aphids are present, at a rate of 0.5 lb/
acre of formulated product (0.25 lb/acre active ingredient) would be 
applied by ground or air. A maximum of 5,000 acres in Kitsap, Lewis, 
Mason and Thurston counties would be treated. Do not apply

[[Page 14937]]

through any type of irrigation system. No application will be permitted 
within 50 yards of any body of water. Do not enter or allow worker 
entry into treated areas during the restricted entry interval (REI) of 
12 hours.
    This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing Section 18 require 
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific 
exemption proposing use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient 
not contained in any currently registered pesticide), -OR- if an 
emergency exemption for a use has been requested in any 3 previous 
years, and a complete application for registration of the use and/or a 
tolerance petition has not been submitted to the Agency 40 CFR 166.24. 
Such notice provides for opportunity for public comment on the 
application.
    The official record for this notice, as well as the public version, 
has been established for this notice under docket number [OPP-181058] 
(including comments and data submitted electronically as described 
below). A public version of this record, including printed, paper 
versions of electronic comments, which does not include any information 
claimed as CBI is available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The official record is 
the paper record maintained at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the 
beginning of this document.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
    [email protected]


    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket number [OPP-181058]. Electronic comments on this notice may 
be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
    The Agency, accordingly, will review and consider all comments 
received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the 
emergency exemption requested by the Washinton Department of 
Agriculture.

List of Subject

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency 
exemptions.

    Dated: March 19, 1998

James Jones,

Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-8072 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F