[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 11880-11881] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-5820] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPP-181068; FRL 6066-5] Buprofezin; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'') to use the insect growth regulator buprofezin (CAS 69327-76-0) to treat up to 100,000 acres of citrus to control California Red Scale. Buprofezin is an unregistered material, and its proposed use is thus use of a ``new'' 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 March 25, 1999. ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification notation ``OPP-181068,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), 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 by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Follow the instructions 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 provided by the submitter for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice. The docket is available for public inspection at the Virginia address given above, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrea Beard, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location, telephone number and e-mail address: Rm. 271, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-9356; 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 buprofezin on citrus to control California Red Scale. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request. The Applicant states that California Red Scale is a key pest of citrus, and the single most costly pest to control. The Applicant states that in the past, treatments were not required every year for this pest, but in recent years resistance to the registered materials has built up and growers have had to treat up to three times in a single year. Alternative methods of control (parasite releases and packing house washers) are applied where feasible; however, the Applicant asserts that a different chemistry with a different mode of action is necessary to control the scale. The Applicant asserts that with continued frequent use of currrently registered materials, increased resistance is likely, and these materials will quickly become wholy ineffective, leaving growers with no tools to control these damaging pests. The Applicant states that without adequate control of scale in citrus, significant economic losses are expected. [[Page 11881]] The Applicant proposes to apply buprofezin at a maximum rate of 2.0 lbs. active ingredient (a.i.) per acre with a maximum of one application per crop season on up to 100,000 acres of citrus. Therefore, use under this exemption could potentially amount to a maximum total of 200,000 lbs. of a.i., buprofezin. 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 in the Federal Register for an application for a specific exemption proposing the use of a new (unregistered) chemical. 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 under docket number (OPP-181068) (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: opp- [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 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the docket number (OPP-181068). 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 California Department of Pesticide Regulation. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Emergency exemptions. Dated: February 26, 1999 Peter Caulkins, Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. 99-5820 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F