[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63084-63088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25860]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2002-0265; FRL-7276-4]
FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meetings
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: There will be a public pre-meeting teleconference and a 3-day
face-to-face meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and
review studies on water disinfection and softening as related to the
Food Quality Protection
[[Page 63085]]
Act of 1996 (FQPA) drinking water exposure assessments.
DATES: Pre-meeting teleconference: November 21, 2002, from 1 p.m. to 3
p.m, eastern standard time.
Face-to-face meetings: December 3-5, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m,
eastern standard time.
Comments: For deadlines for submission of requests to present oral
comments and submission of written comments, see Unit I.E. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Nominations: Requests for nominations to serve as an ad hoc member
of the FIFRA SAP for the pre-meeting teleconference and face-to-face
meetings should be provided on or before October 25, 2002.
Special seating: Requests for special seating arrangements should
be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.
ADDRESSES: Pre-meeting teleconference: This meeting will be held at the
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA East Bldg., 1201 Constitution
Ave., NW., Conference Room 4225, Washington, DC. For additional
information about the pre-meeting teleconference, including how to
receive the teleconference telephone number, contact the Designated
Federal Official (DFO) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. To
ensure proper receipt by EPA, your request must identify docket ID
number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of your
response.
Face-to-face meetings: These meetings will be held at the Sheraton
Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The
telephone number for the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel is (703) 486-1111.
Comments: Written comments may be submitted electronically, by
mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed
instructions as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Nominations, Requests to present oral comments, and Special
seating: To submit nominations to serve as an ad hoc member of the
FIFRA SAP for the face-to-face meetings and pre-meeting teleconference,
or requests for special seating arrangements, or requests to present
oral comments, notify the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, your request must identify
docket ID number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of
your response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Lewis, DFO, Office of Science
Coordination and Policy (7202M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(202) 564-8450; fax number: (202) 564-8382; e-mail address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general. This action may,
however, be of interest to persons who are or may be required to
conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), FIFRA, and FQPA. Since other entities may
also 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 DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2002-0265. The
official public docket consists of the documents specifically
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other
information related to this action. Although a part of the official
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials
that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
A meeting agenda relevant to these meetings is now available. EPA's
position paper, questions to FIFRA SAP, and FIFRA SAP composition
(i.e., members and consultants for this meeting) will be available as
soon as possible, but no later than early November. In addition, the
Agency may provide additional background documents as the materials
become available. You may obtain electronic copies of these documents,
and certain other related documents that might be available
electronically, from the FIFRA SAP Internet Home Page at http://
www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets.
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket.
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through
the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. EPA intends to work
towards providing electronic access to all of the publicly available
docket materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or
delivered to the docket will be
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transferred to EPA's electronic public docket. Public comments that are
mailed or delivered to the docket will be scanned and placed in EPA's
electronic public docket. Where practical, physical objects will be
photographed, and the photograph will be placed in EPA's electronic
public docket along with a brief description written by the docket
staff.
C. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information
protected by statute.
1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name,
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in
the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket,
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/
edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number
OPP-2002-0265. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to [email protected],
Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2002-0265. In contrast to EPA's
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous
access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket
without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail
system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses
that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as
part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and
made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID Number OPP-2002-0265.
3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall
2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket
ID Number OPP-2002-0265. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.
D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?
Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM,
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 CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes
any 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 and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
E. How May I Participate in These Meetings?
Requests to present oral comments, written comments, or requests
for special seating arrangements may be submitted electronically, by
mail, or through hand delivery/courier. (See Units I.C.-D.) Do not
submit any information in your request that is considered CBI. To
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket
ID number OPP-2002-0265 in the subject line on the first page of your
request.
1. Oral comments. Oral comments presented at the meetings should
not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or written comments.
Although requests to present oral comments are accepted until the date
of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), to the extent that time
permits, interested persons may be permitted by the Chair of FIFRA SAP
to present oral comments at the meeting. Each individual or group
wishing to make brief oral comments to FIFRA SAP is strongly advised to
submit their request to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT no later than noon, eastern standard time, November 14, 2002,
for the pre-meeting teleconference or no later than noon, eastern
standard time, November 25, 2002, for the face-to-face meetings in
order to be included on the meeting agenda. The request should identify
the name of the individual making the presentation and the organization
(if any) the individual will represent. In addition, any requirements
for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 35 mm projector,
chalkboard) at the face-to-face meetings should be requested at this
time. Oral comments before the FIFRA SAP are limited to approximately 5
minutes unless prior arrangements have been made. In addition, each
speaker should bring 30 copies of his or her comments and presentation
slides to the face-to-face meeting.
2. Written comments. Although submission of written comments are
accepted until the date of the meeting
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(unless otherwise stated), the Agency encourages that written comments
be submitted no later than noon, eastern standard time, November 14,
2002, for the pre-meeting teleconference or no later than noon, eastern
standard time, November 25, 2002, for the face-to-face meetings, to
provide the FIFRA SAP the time necessary to consider and review the
written comments. There is no limit on the extent of written comments
for consideration by FIFRA SAP. Persons wishing to submit written
comments at the meeting should contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT and submit 30 copies.
3. Seating at the meetings. Seating at both meetings will be on a
first-come basis. Individuals requiring special accommodations at this
meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact the DFO at least 5
business days prior to the meeting using the information under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT so that appropriate arrangements can be
made.
II. Background
A. Purpose of the FIFRA SAP
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463,
notice is hereby given of two meetings of the EPA FIFRA SAP. Amendments
to FIFRA enacted November 28, 1975 (7 U.S.C. 136w(d)), include a
requirement under section 25(d) of FIFRA that notices of intent to
cancel or reclassify pesticide regulations pursuant to section 6(b)(2)
of FIFRA, as well as proposed and final forms of rulemaking pursuant to
section 25(a) of FIFRA, be submitted to a SAP prior to being made
public or issued to a registrant. In accordance with section 25(d) of
FIFRA, the FIFRA SAP is to have an opportunity to comment on the health
and environmental impact of such actions. The FIFRA SAP also shall make
comments, evaluations, and recommendations for operating guidelines to
improve the effectiveness and quality of analyses made by Agency
scientists. Members are scientists who have sufficient professional
qualifications, including training and experience, to be capable of
providing expert comments as to the impact on health and the
environment of regulatory actions under sections 6(b) and 25(a) of
FIFRA. The Deputy Administrator appoints seven individuals to serve on
the FIFRA SAP for staggered terms of 4 years, based on recommendations
from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science
Foundation.
Section 104 of FQPA (Public Law 104-170) established the FQPA
Science Review Board (SRB). These scientists shall be available to the
FIFRA SAP on an ad hoc basis to assist in reviews conducted by the
FIFRA SAP.
B. Pre-meeting Teleconference
The FIFRA SAP will meet on November 21, 2002, via teleconference
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., eastern standard time. This teleconference
meeting will be hosted out of Conference Room 4225, Environmental
Protection Protection, EPA East Bldg., 1201 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public and seating will be
on a first-come basis. The public may also attend via telephone. For
further information concerning the meeting or how to obtain the
telephone number, please contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
The purpose of this public pre-meeting teleconference is to:
1. Discuss the charge and the adequacy of the review materials
provided to the FIFRA SAP.
2. Clarify any questions and issues relating to the charge and the
review materials.
3. Discuss specific charge assignments to the Panelists.
4. Clarify specific points of interest raised by the Panelists in
preparation for the face-to-face meetings to be held on December 3,
December 4, and December 5, 2002.
C. Face-to-Face Public Meetings
On December 3-5, 2002, the Agency will be continuing its
consultation with the FIFRA SAP to review studies on water disinfection
and softening as related to FQPA drinking water exposure assessments.
On September 29, 2000, the Agency updated the FIFRA SAP on their
progress in improving its drinking water assessment process. In
addition, the Agency presented a review of the scientific literature on
the impacts of drinking water treatment on the removal and
transformation of pesticides. In their recommendations, the FIFRA SAP
supported the Agency's efforts to better understand the effects of
water treatment on pesticides and encouraged the Agency to return to
the FIFRA SAP to report on its progress in developing approaches that
factor treatment into drinking water exposure assessments.
Since the previous meeting, the Agency has reviewed additional
pesticide laboratory and field monitoring studies plus new information
on the effects of drinking water treatment processes on pesticide
removal and transformation. In addition, the Agency has developed a
proposed laboratory protocol to determine the effects of individual and
combined drinking water treatment processes on pesticide removal and
transformation. The purpose of this consultation is to update the Panel
on the Agency's efforts to identify various U.S. drinking water
treatment processes and to present laboratory studies and field
monitoring studies that consider treatment effects on pesticides. The
Agency will also present a proposed laboratory protocol for determining
the effects of treatment on pesticide removal and transformation plus a
plan for testing the protocol design and implementation. For this
consultation, the Panel will review:
1. The Agency's progress report on effects of treatment processes
on the levels and stability of pesticides in community water systems
and;
2. The Agency's proposed laboratory protocol for assessing water
treatment effects.
D. Request for Nominations to Serve as Ad Hoc Members of the FIFRA SAP
for These Meetings
The FIFRA SAP staff routinely solicit the stakeholder community for
nominations to serve as ad hoc members of the FIFRA SAP for each
meeting. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified
individuals to serve on the FIFRA SAP for a specific meeting. No
interested person shall be ineligible to serve by reason of their
membership on any other advisory committee to a Federal Department or
Agency or their employment by a Federal Department or Agency (except
the EPA). Individuals nominated should have expertise in one or more of
the following areas: Water treatment, chemical oxidation, water quality
assessment, and drinking water risk assessment. Nominees should be
scientists who have sufficient professional qualifications, including
training and experience, to be capable of providing expert comments on
the issues for this meeting. Nominees should be identified by name,
occupation, position, address, and telephone number. Nominations should
be provided to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by
October 25, 2002.
The criteria for selecting scientists to serve on the FIFRA SAP are
that these persons be recognized scientists--experts in their fields;
that they be as impartial and objective as possible; that they
represent an array of backgrounds and perspectives (within their
disciplines); have no financial conflict of interest; have not
previously been involved with the scientific peer review of the
issue(s) presented; and that they
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be available to participate fully in the review, which will be
conducted over a relatively short-time frame. Nominees will be asked to
attend the public meetings and to participate in the discussion of key
issues and assumptions at these meetings. Finally, they will be asked
to review and to help finalize the meeting minutes.
If a FIFRA SAP nominee is considered to assist in a review by the
FIFRA SAP for a particular session, the nominee is subject to the
provisions of 5 CFR part 2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure,
as supplemented by the EPA in 5 CFR part 6401. As such, the FIFRA SAP
nominee is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure
Report which shall fully disclose, among other financial interests, the
nominee's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources
of research support. EPA will evaluate the nominee's financial
disclosure form to assess that there are no formal conflict of
interests before the nominee is considered to serve on the FIFRA SAP.
Selected FIFRA SAP members will be hired as a Special Government
Employee. The Agency will review all nominations; a decision on FIFRA
SAP members for the meeting will be posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or
may be obtained by contacting the PIRIB at the address or telephone
number listed in Unit I.
E. FIFRA SAP Meeting Minutes
The FIFRA SAP will prepare meeting minutes summarizing its
recommendations to the Agency in approximately 60 days. The meeting
minutes will be posted on the FIFRA SAP web site or may be obtained by
contacting the PIRIB at the address or telephone number listed in Unit
I.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: October 3, 2002.
Joseph J. Merenda, Jr.,
Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.
[FR Doc. 02-25860 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S