[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]


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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.

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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