80 FR 36338 - Pesticides; Risk Management Approach To Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly; Notice of Availability and Public Comment Opportunity
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 121 (June 24, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 121 (June 24, 2015)
| Page Range | 36338-36339 | |
| FR Document | 2015-15405 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 36338-36339] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-15405] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0389; FRL-9929-01] Pesticides; Risk Management Approach To Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly; Notice of Availability and Public Comment Opportunity AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a document for public review and comment that describes the Agency's management approach for understanding and identifying protections for the monarch butterfly. This document is the start of an approach for monarch butterfly protection and weed management which will depend upon (i) input from a diverse group of stakeholders to identify and integrate information with respect to influences on the population dynamics of the monarch butterfly and the milkweed plant; and, (ii) cooperation and collaboration from these diverse stakeholders to identify activities that will balance weed management needs across varied landscapes with conservation of the milkweed plant. EPA is soliciting public comment on which potential action or a combination of actions would be the most effective in reducing the impacts of herbicides on the monarch butterfly. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 24, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0389, 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: Khue Nguyen, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460- 0001; telephone number: (703) 347-0248; email address: nguyen.khue@epa.gov. 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, farmworker, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution, or use of pesticides. Since others also may be interested, the agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through http://www.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? EPA is taking public comment on a document entitled, Risk Management Approach to Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly, a copy of which is available in the docket at http://www.regulations.gov under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0389. The document identifies the types of information that EPA believes may be important to have in order to identify appropriate actions to take under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to protect monarch butterflies (including milkweed resources) while also enabling pesticide users to meet important weed management needs. EPA is initiating efforts focused specifically on the monarch butterfly for several reasons. First, the U.S. has been engaged in an effort with Canada and Mexico through the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management, where the three partner nations have agreed to make natural resource conservation a priority. Consistent with its objective to conserve and manage natural resources across North America, the committee has recognized the monarch butterfly as an emblematic species shared by the three countries and renewed their collaborative effort to protect the species and its required resources. Secondly, in addition to the efforts of the Trilateral Committee, President Obama issued a memorandum on pollinator protection entitled, Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and other Pollinators. The memorandum highlights the importance of the monarch butterfly and establishes a task force of Federal agencies to develop a strategy to conserve pollinators and the monarch butterfly in particular. The memorandum states that the task force is to develop a strategy that looks to developing partnerships with external stakeholders such as state, tribal and local governments, farmers, corporations, and non-governmental organizations to achieve the goal of protecting and conserving the monarch butterfly and its habitat. Finally, in February 2014, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) received a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) [[Page 36339]] asking EPA to take actions to reduce the use of the herbicide glyphosate because NRDC believes that the widespread use of glyphosate has impacted the monarch butterfly by reducing the presence of the milkweed. While EPA has denied NRDC's petition, EPA concludes that its ongoing efforts to protect bees, in conjunction now with this effort to protect the monarch butterfly, are in line with the objectives of the NRDC petition. In addition, together with several non-governmental organizations, various agencies within the Federal government have been working collaboratively with the Monarch Joint Venture to develop and implement measures to protect monarch butterflies and their migration. The approach and objectives outlined in Risk Management Approach to Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly will support and complement the actions and objectives of the Trilateral Committee and the Presidential Memorandum on Pollinator Health. EPA is soliciting public comment on which potential action or a combination of actions would be the most effective in reducing the impacts of herbicides on the monarch butterfly. The agency is also requesting that any additional measures not discussed here be identified. Please note that the approach discussed in Risk Management Approach to Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly is intended to provide guidance to EPA personnel and decision-makers and to pesticide registrants. While the requirements in the statutes and Agency regulations are binding on EPA and the applicants, this guidance document is not binding on either EPA or pesticide registrants, and EPA may depart from the guidance where circumstances warrant and without prior notice. Likewise, pesticide registrants may assert that the guidance is not applicable to a specific pesticide or situation. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. Dated: June 16, 2015. Jack Housenger, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. 2015-15405 Filed 6-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![36338 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 121 / Wednesday, June 24, 2015 / Notices
review. However, submitters must • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// accordance with procedures set forth in
explain why they believe the Agency www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 40 CFR part 2.
should reconsider the data or instructions for submitting comments. 2. Tips for preparing your comments.
information in the pesticide’s Do not submit electronically any When preparing and submitting your
registration review. information you consider to be comments, see the commenting tips at
As provided in 40 CFR 155.58, the Confidential Business Information (CBI) http://www.epa.gov/dockets/
registration review docket for each or other information whose disclosure is comments.html.
pesticide case will remain publicly restricted by statute. II. What Action is the Agency Taking?
accessible through the duration of the • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
registration review process; that is, until Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/ EPA is taking public comment on a
all actions required in the final decision DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. document entitled, Risk Management
on the registration review case have NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. Approach to Identifying Options for
Protecting the Monarch Butterfly, a copy
been completed. • Hand Delivery: To make special
of which is available in the docket at
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. arrangements for hand delivery or
http://www.regulations.gov under
delivery of boxed information, please
Dated: June 17, 2015. docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–
follow the instructions at http:// 0389. The document identifies the types
Neil G. Anderson,
www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. of information that EPA believes may be
Acting Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation
Additional instructions on important to have in order to identify
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
commenting or visiting the docket, appropriate actions to take under the
[FR Doc. 2015–15526 Filed 6–23–15; 8:45 am]
along with more information about Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
dockets generally, is available at Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to protect
http://www.epa.gov/dockets. monarch butterflies (including
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: milkweed resources) while also
AGENCY Khue Nguyen, Pesticide Re-Evaluation enabling pesticide users to meet
Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide important weed management needs.
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0389; FRL–9929–01] Programs, Environmental Protection EPA is initiating efforts focused
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., specifically on the monarch butterfly for
Pesticides; Risk Management Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone several reasons.
Approach To Identifying Options for number: (703) 347–0248; email address: First, the U.S. has been engaged in an
Protecting the Monarch Butterfly; nguyen.khue@epa.gov. effort with Canada and Mexico through
Notice of Availability and Public the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Trilateral
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comment Opportunity Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem
I. General Information Conservation and Management, where
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
A. Does this action apply to me? the three partner nations have agreed to
Agency (EPA).
make natural resource conservation a
ACTION: Notice. This action is directed to the public priority. Consistent with its objective to
in general, and may be of interest to a conserve and manage natural resources
SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the wide range of stakeholders including
availability of a document for public across North America, the committee
environmental, human health, has recognized the monarch butterfly as
review and comment that describes the farmworker, and agricultural advocates;
Agency’s management approach for an emblematic species shared by the
the chemical industry; pesticide users; three countries and renewed their
understanding and identifying and members of the public interested in
protections for the monarch butterfly. collaborative effort to protect the species
the sale, distribution, or use of and its required resources.
This document is the start of an pesticides. Since others also may be Secondly, in addition to the efforts of
approach for monarch butterfly interested, the agency has not attempted the Trilateral Committee, President
protection and weed management to describe all the specific entities that Obama issued a memorandum on
which will depend upon (i) input from may be affected by this action. pollinator protection entitled, Creating a
a diverse group of stakeholders to
Federal Strategy to Promote the Health
identify and integrate information with B. What should I consider as I prepare
of Honey Bees and other Pollinators.
respect to influences on the population my comments for EPA?
The memorandum highlights the
dynamics of the monarch butterfly and 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this importance of the monarch butterfly and
the milkweed plant; and, (ii) information to EPA through http:// establishes a task force of Federal
cooperation and collaboration from www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly agencies to develop a strategy to
these diverse stakeholders to identify mark the part or all of the information conserve pollinators and the monarch
activities that will balance weed that you claim to be CBI. For CBI butterfly in particular. The
management needs across varied information in a disk or CD–ROM that memorandum states that the task force
landscapes with conservation of the you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the is to develop a strategy that looks to
milkweed plant. EPA is soliciting public disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then developing partnerships with external
comment on which potential action or identify electronically within the disk or stakeholders such as state, tribal and
a combination of actions would be the CD–ROM the specific information that local governments, farmers,
most effective in reducing the impacts is claimed as CBI. In addition to one corporations, and non-governmental
of herbicides on the monarch butterfly.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
complete version of the comment that organizations to achieve the goal of
DATES: Comments must be received on includes information claimed as CBI, a protecting and conserving the monarch
or before July 24, 2015. copy of the comment that does not butterfly and its habitat.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, contain the information claimed as CBI Finally, in February 2014, EPA’s
identified by docket identification (ID) must be submitted for inclusion in the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0389, by public docket. Information so marked received a petition from the Natural
one of the following methods: will not be disclosed except in Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 121 / Wednesday, June 24, 2015 / Notices 36339
asking EPA to take actions to reduce the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS information collection, contact Cathy
use of the herbicide glyphosate because COMMISSION Williams at (202) 418–2918. To view a
NRDC believes that the widespread use copy of this information collection
[OMB 3060–0228 and 3060–0931]
of glyphosate has impacted the monarch request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go
butterfly by reducing the presence of the Information Collections Being to the Web page http://www.reginfo.gov/
milkweed. While EPA has denied Submitted for Review and Approval to public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the
NRDC’s petition, EPA concludes that its the Office of Management and Budget section of the Web page called
ongoing efforts to protect bees, in ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3) click on
AGENCY: Federal Communications the downward-pointing arrow in the
conjunction now with this effort to
Commission. ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the
protect the monarch butterfly, are in
ACTION: Notice and request for ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)
line with the objectives of the NRDC
comments. select ‘‘Federal Communications
petition.
Commission’’ from the list of agencies
In addition, together with several non- SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort
presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,
governmental organizations, various to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
(5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the
agencies within the Federal government required by the Paperwork Reduction
right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)
have been working collaboratively with Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
when the list of FCC ICRs currently
the Monarch Joint Venture to develop 3520), the Federal Communication
under review appears, look for the OMB
and implement measures to protect Commission (FCC or Commission)
control number of this ICR and then
invites the general public and other
monarch butterflies and their migration. click on the ICR Reference Number. A
Federal agencies to take this
The approach and objectives outlined in copy of the FCC submission to OMB
opportunity to comment on the
Risk Management Approach to will be displayed.
following information collections.
Identifying Options for Protecting the Comments are requested concerning: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Monarch Butterfly will support and whether the proposed collection of OMB Control Number: 3060–0228.
complement the actions and objectives information is necessary for the proper Title: Section 80.59, Compulsory Ship
of the Trilateral Committee and the performance of the functions of the Inspections and Ship Inspection
Presidential Memorandum on Pollinator Commission, including whether the Certificates, FCC Forms 806, 824, 827
Health. information shall have practical utility; and 829.
the accuracy of the Commission’s Form Numbers: FCC Forms 806, 824,
EPA is soliciting public comment on
burden estimate; ways to enhance the 827 and 829.
which potential action or a combination
quality, utility, and clarity of the Type of Review: Extension of a
of actions would be the most effective
information collected; ways to minimize currently approved collection.
in reducing the impacts of herbicides on Respondents: Business or other for-
the monarch butterfly. The agency is the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents, profit entities, not-for-profit institutions
also requesting that any additional and state, local or tribal government.
measures not discussed here be including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of Number of Respondents: 1,310
identified. respondents; 1,310 responses.
information technology; and ways to
Please note that the approach further reduce the information Estimated Time per Response: 0.084
discussed in Risk Management collection burden on small business hours (5 minutes)-4 hours per response.
Approach to Identifying Options for concerns with fewer than 25 employees. Frequency of Response: On occasion,
Protecting the Monarch Butterfly is The FCC may not conduct or sponsor annual and every five year reporting
intended to provide guidance to EPA a collection of information unless it requirements, recordkeeping
personnel and decision-makers and to displays a currently valid OMB control requirement and third party disclosure
pesticide registrants. While the number. No person shall be subject to requirement.
requirements in the statutes and Agency any penalty for failing to comply with Obligation to Respond: Required to
regulations are binding on EPA and the a collection of information subject to the obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
applicants, this guidance document is PRA that does not display a valid OMB authority for this information collection
control number. is contained in 47 U.S.C. 4, 303, 309,
not binding on either EPA or pesticide
DATES: Written comments should be 332 and 362 of the Communications Act
registrants, and EPA may depart from
submitted on or before July 24, 2015. If of 1934, as amended.
the guidance where circumstances
you anticipate that you will be Total Annual Burden: 5,445 hours.
warrant and without prior notice. Total Annual Cost: No cost.
Likewise, pesticide registrants may submitting comments, but find it
difficult to do so within the period of Privacy Impact Assessment: No
assert that the guidance is not impact(s).
applicable to a specific pesticide or time allowed by this notice, you should
advise the contacts below as soon as Needs and Uses: The requirements
situation. contained in 47 CFR 80.59 of the
possible.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. Commission’s rules are necessary to
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to implement the provisions of section
Dated: June 16, 2015. Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email 362(b) of the Communications Act of
Jack Housenger, Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and 934, as amended, which require the
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email PRA@ Commission to inspect the radio
fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2015–15405 Filed 6–23–15; 8:45 am] installation of large cargo ships and
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Include in the comments the OMB certain passenger ships at least once a
control number as shown in the year to ensure that the radio installation
‘‘Supplementary Information’’ section is in compliance with the requirements
below. of the Communications Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Further, section 80.59(d) states that
additional information or copies of the the Commission may, upon a finding
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:09:04
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:09:04
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before July 24, 2015. | |
| Contact | Khue Nguyen, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460- | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 36338 |
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