80_FR_39106 80 FR 38976 - Prohexadione Calcium; Pesticide Tolerances

80 FR 38976 - Prohexadione Calcium; Pesticide Tolerances

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 130 (July 8, 2015)

Page Range38976-38980
FR Document2015-16419

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of prohexadione calcium in or on strawberry and watercress. Inter-Regional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38976-38980]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16419]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0346; FRL-9927-25]


Prohexadione Calcium; Pesticide Tolerances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
prohexadione calcium in or on strawberry and watercress. Inter-Regional 
Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is effective July 8, 2015. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before September 8, 2015, 
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0346, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory 
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 
1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP 
Docket is (703) 305-5805. Please review the visitor instructions and 
additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lewis, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone 
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of EPA's 
tolerance regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through the Government 
Printing Office's e-CFR site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.

C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0346 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing, and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
September 8, 2015. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections 
and hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential 
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without 
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing 
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0346, 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 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.

II. Summary of Petitioned-For Tolerance

    In the Federal Register of August 1, 2014 (79 FR 44729) (FRL-9911-
67), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 
U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 
4E8264) by IR-4, IR-4 Project Headquarters, Rutgers, The State 
University of New Jersey, 500 College Road East, Suite 201 W, 
Princeton, NJ 08450. The petition requested that 40 CFR part 180 be 
amended by establishing tolerances for residues of the fungicide 
prohexadione calcium, calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-propionylcyclohex-3-
enecarboxylate, in or on strawberry at 0.3 parts per million (ppm) and 
watercress at 2.0 ppm. That document referenced a summary of the 
petition prepared by BASF Corporation, the registrant, which is 
available in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. A comment was 
received on the notice of filing. EPA's response to these comments is 
discussed in Unit IV.C.
    Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA has 
amended the tolerance for watercress from what the petitioner 
requested. The reason for this change is explained in Unit IV.D.

III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a 
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a 
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a 
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure 
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary 
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable 
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in 
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. 
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a

[[Page 38977]]

reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and children 
from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue . . . .''
    Consistent with FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), and the factors 
specified in FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the available 
scientific data and other relevant information in support of this 
action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to make a 
determination on aggregate exposure for prohexadione calcium including 
exposure resulting from the tolerances established by this action. 
EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated with prohexadione 
calcium follows.

A. Toxicological Profile

    EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its 
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of 
the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered 
available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities 
of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and 
children.
    The most sensitive effect in the prohexadione toxicity database by 
oral exposure is kidney toxicity in dogs both for subchronic and 
chronic durations. Minor hematological changes (decreased white blood 
cell counts in males), and fore-stomach hyperplasia were seen only at 
very high doses in rodents. No dermal toxicity was observed up to the 
limit dose of 1,000 milligram/kilogram/day (mg/kg/day). There was no 
evidence of neurotoxicity in either of the neurotoxicity screening 
batteries up to or exceeding the limit dose.
    In rats and rabbits, no increased quantitative or qualitative pre- 
or postnatal susceptibility was observed. In rats, no maternal or 
developmental toxicity was observed up to the limit dose (1,000 mg/kg/
day). Three developmental studies in rabbits are available in the 
toxicological database for prohexadione calcium. In one study, late 
abortions occurred during GD 24-29 at 200 mg/kg/day, with increased 
mortality in maternal animals (GD 15-24) also noted at this dose. In 
another rabbit developmental study, two premature deliveries (on GD 24 
and 26) were noted at the highest dose tested (350 mg/kg/day) with no 
developmental effects observed. No maternal or developmental effects 
were seen in a third rabbit developmental study up to 150 mg/kg/day. In 
the 2-generation reproductive toxicity study with rats, parental 
toxicity (minimal mortality) occurred at a dose well below the dose 
that caused decreases in offspring body weight (3, 850 mg/kg/day).
    Prohexadione calcium is classified as not likely to be carcinogenic 
to humans based on lack of evidence of carcinogenicity in rats and 
mice.
    Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the 
adverse effects caused by prohexadione calcium as well as the no-
observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-
effect-level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in document Prohexadione Calcium. Section 3 
Registration for Use on Strawberry and Watercress. Human Health Risk 
Assessment on pages 11-14 in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0346.

B. Toxicological Points of Departure/Levels of Concern

    Once a pesticide's toxicological profile is determined, EPA 
identifies toxicological points of departure (POD) and levels of 
concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the 
pesticide. For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no 
appreciable risk, the toxicological POD is used as the basis for 
derivation of reference values for risk assessment. PODs are developed 
based on a careful analysis of the doses in each toxicological study to 
determine the dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL) 
and the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified 
(the LOAEL). Uncertainty/safety factors (U/SF) are used in conjunction 
with the POD to calculate a safe exposure level--generally referred to 
as a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a reference dose (RfD)--and a 
safe margin of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold risks, the Agency 
assumes that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk. 
Thus, the Agency estimates risk in terms of the probability of an 
occurrence of the adverse effect expected in a lifetime. For more 
information on the general principles EPA uses in risk characterization 
and a complete description of the risk assessment process, see http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm.
    A summary of the toxicological endpoints for prohexadione calcium 
used for human risk assessment is shown in the Table of this unit. 
Since the assessment in 2011, (November 18, 2011) (76 FR 71459) (FRL-
9326-4), the Agency has reevaluated the endpoints and determined that 
the previously identified dermal endpoints are no longer appropriate.

    Table--Summary of Toxicological Doses and Endpoints for Prohexadione Calcium for Use in Human Health Risk
                                                   Assessment
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                                     Point of departure and
         Exposure/scenario             uncertainty/safety    RfD, PAD, LOC for risk    Study and toxicological
                                             factors               assessment                  effects
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Acute dietary (All populations)....     No endpoint attributable to a single dose and appropriate for the U.S.
                                         general population was seen in the prohexadione calcium toxicological
                                       database; therefore, an acute dietary point of departure for the general
                                                         U.S. population was not established.
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Chronic dietary (All populations)..  NOAEL = 20 mg/kg/day..  Chronic RfD = cPAD =    Chronic toxicity--Dog.
                                     UFA = 10x.............   0.20 mg/kg/day.         LOAEL = 200 mg/kg/day
                                     UFH = 10x.............                           based on histopathological
                                     FQPA SF = 1x..........                           changes in the kidneys
                                                                                      (dilated basophilic
                                                                                      tubules) and increased
                                                                                      urinary volume and sodium
                                                                                      concentration.
Incidental oral short-term (1 to 30  NOAEL= 80 mg/kg/day...  LOC for MOE = 100.....  90-Day oral toxicity--Dog.
 days) and intermediate-term.        UFA = 10x.............                           LOAEL = 400 mg/kg/day
(1 to 6 months)....................  UFH = 10x.............                           based on moderate cortical
                                     FQPA SF = 1x..........                           areas of dilated
                                                                                      basophilic tubules in the
                                                                                      kidneys and decreased
                                                                                      potassium levels.
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[[Page 38978]]

 
Dermal short-term (1 to 30 days)      Short-term and intermediate-term dermal endpoints were not selected since
 and intermediate-term (1 to 6          there were no adverse dermal or systemic effects observed in the 28-day
 months).                             dermal study in rats. There was also no evidence of increased quantitative
                                       or qualitative pre- or postnatal sensitivity in the prohexadione calcium
                                       database. Therefore no concern for any duration of dermal exposure and no
                                                             dermal endpoints are required
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inhalation short-term (1 to 30       NOAEL= 40 mg/kg/day...  LOC for MOE = 100.....  Prenatal Developmental
 days) and intermediate-term (1 to   UFA = 10x.............                           Toxicity--Rabbit. Maternal
 6 months).                          UFH = 10x.............                           LOAEL = 200 mg/kg/day
                                     FQPA SF = 1x..........                           based on increased
                                     Inhalation assumed                               mortality, and abortions.
                                      equivalent to oral.
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Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation)..   ``Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans'' based upon lack of evidence of
                                       carcinogenicity in rats and mice. No evidence of carcinogenic potential,
                                                  therefore, cancer risk assessment is not required.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. LOC = level
  of concern. mg/kg/day = milligram/kilogram/day. MOE = margin of exposure. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-
  level. PAD = population adjusted dose (a = acute, c = chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty factor.
  UFA = extrapolation from animal to human (interspecies). UFH = potential variation in sensitivity among
  members of the human population (intraspecies).

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary 
exposure to prohexadione calcium, EPA considered exposure under the 
petitioned-for tolerances as well as all existing prohexadione calcium 
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.547. EPA assessed dietary exposures from 
prohexadione calcium in food as follows:
    i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk 
assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide, if a toxicological 
study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring 
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure.
    No such effects were identified in the toxicological studies for 
prohexadione calcium; therefore, a quantitative acute dietary exposure 
assessment is unnecessary.
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure 
assessment EPA used the food consumption data from the USDA Nationwide 
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, What We Eat In America 
(NHANES/WWEIA) conducted from 2003-2008. As to residue levels in food, 
the chronic dietary analysis assumed Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model 
(DEEM) (ver. 7.81) default processing factors, 100 percent crop treated 
(PCT) and tolerance-level residues for all commodities.
    iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has 
concluded that prohexadione calcium does not pose a cancer risk to 
humans. Therefore, a dietary exposure assessment for the purpose of 
assessing cancer risk is unnecessary.
    iv. Anticipated residue and percent crop treated (PCT) information. 
EPA did not use anticipated residue or PCT information in the dietary 
assessment for prohexadione calcium. Tolerance-level residues and/or 
100 PCT were assumed for all food commodities.
    2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency used screening 
level water exposure models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk 
assessment for prohexadione calcium in drinking water. These simulation 
models take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/
transport characteristics of prohexadione calcium. Further information 
regarding EPA drinking water models used in pesticide exposure 
assessment can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/index.htm.
    Based on the Tier 1 Rice Model and Screening Concentration in 
Ground Water (SCI-GROW) model, the estimated drinking water 
concentrations (EDWCs) of prohexadione calcium for chronic exposures 
for non-cancer assessments are estimated to be 170 parts per billion 
(ppb) for surface water and 0.137 ppb for ground water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly 
entered into the dietary exposure model. For chronic dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration of value 170 ppb was used to assess 
the contribution to drinking water.
    3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is 
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary 
exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, 
termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets).
    Prohexadione calcium is currently registered for the following uses 
that could result in residential exposures: Residential lawns, 
ornamentals, athletic fields, parks, and golf courses. EPA assessed 
residential exposure using the following assumptions: Short-term 
residential handler exposures may result from adults applying 
prohexadione calcium to residential lawns and ornamentals. The Agency 
assessed inhalation exposures for adult handlers applying manually-
pressurized handwand applications to bedding plants. Short-term 
exposure is also possible for post-application incidental oral 
exposures of children 1-<2 years old. The Agency assessed hand-to-mouth 
exposures and incidental soil ingestions from applications to turf for 
children. Intermediate- and long-term exposures are not expected since 
there are no registered or proposed uses of prohexadione calcium that 
result in intermediate- or long-term residential exposures. Further 
information regarding EPA standard assumptions and generic inputs for 
residential exposures may be found at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/science/residential-exposure-sop.html.
    4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of 
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when 
considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the 
Agency consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative 
effects of a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances 
that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA has not found prohexadione calcium to share a common mechanism

[[Page 38979]]

of toxicity with any other substances, and prohexadione calcium does 
not appear to produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. 
For the purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed 
that prohexadione calcium does not have a common mechanism of toxicity 
with other substances. For information regarding EPA's efforts to 
determine which chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to 
evaluate the cumulative effects of such chemicals, see EPA's Web site 
at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.

D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children

    1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA provides that EPA 
shall apply an additional tenfold (10X) margin of safety for infants 
and children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal 
and postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the database on toxicity 
and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a 
different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. This 
additional margin of safety is commonly referred to as the Food Quality 
Protection Act Safety Factor (FQPA SF). In applying this provision, EPA 
either retains the default value of 10X, or uses a different additional 
safety factor when reliable data are available to EPA support the 
choice of a different factor.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. There are no residual 
uncertainties for prenatal and postnatal toxicity and there is no 
evidence of increased qualitative or quantitative susceptibility of any 
kind for fetuses and offspring in both rats and rabbits.
    3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show the 
safety of infants and children would be adequately protected if the 
FQPA SF were reduced to 1X. That decision is based on the following 
findings:
    i. The toxicity database for prohexadione calcium is complete.
    ii. There is no indication that prohexadione calcium is a 
neurotoxic chemical and there is no need for a developmental 
neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to account for neurotoxicity.
    iii. There is no evidence that prohexadione calcium results in 
increased susceptibility in in utero rats or rabbits in the prenatal 
developmental studies or in young rats in the 2-generation reproduction 
study.
    iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure 
databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed based 
on 100 PCT, tolerance-level residues, and DEEM (Ver 7.81) default 
processing factors. EPA made conservative (protective) assumptions in 
the ground and surface water modeling used to assess exposure to 
prohexadione calcium in drinking water. EPA used similarly conservative 
assumptions to assess post-application exposure of children as well as 
incidental oral exposure of toddlers. These assessments will not 
underestimate the exposure and risks posed by prohexadione calcium.

E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety

    EPA determines whether acute and chronic dietary pesticide 
exposures are safe by comparing aggregate exposure estimates to the 
acute PAD (aPAD) and chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer risks, EPA 
calculates the lifetime probability of acquiring cancer given the 
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-, intermediate-, and chronic-term 
risks are evaluated by comparing the estimated aggregate food, water, 
and residential exposure to the appropriate PODs to ensure that an 
adequate MOE exists.
    1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk assessment takes into 
account acute exposure estimates from dietary consumption of food and 
drinking water. No adverse effect resulting from a single oral exposure 
was identified and no acute dietary endpoint was selected. Therefore, 
prohexadione calcium is not expected to pose an acute risk.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to 
prohexadione calcium from food and water will utilize 19% of the cPAD 
for children 1-2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest 
exposure. Based on the explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding 
residential use patterns, chronic residential exposure to residues of 
prohexadione calcium is not expected.
    3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into 
account short-term residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food 
and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
    Prohexadione calcium is currently registered for uses that could 
result in short-term residential exposure, and the Agency has 
determined that it is appropriate to aggregate chronic exposure through 
food and water with short-term residential exposures to prohexadione 
calcium.
    Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for short-
term exposures, EPA has concluded the combined short-term food, water, 
and residential exposures result in aggregate MOEs of 14,000 for adults 
and 2,100 for children. Because EPA's level of concern for prohexadione 
calcium is a MOE of 100 or below, these MOEs are not of concern.
    4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure 
takes into account intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic 
exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure 
level).
    An intermediate-term adverse effect was identified; however, 
prohexadione calcium is not registered for any use patterns that would 
result in intermediate-term residential exposure. Intermediate-term 
risk is assessed based on intermediate-term residential exposure plus 
chronic dietary exposure. Because there is no intermediate-term 
residential exposure and chronic dietary exposure has already been 
assessed under the appropriately protective cPAD (which is at least as 
protective as the POD used to assess intermediate-term risk), no 
further assessment of intermediate-term risk is necessary, and EPA 
relies on the chronic dietary risk assessment for evaluating 
intermediate-term risk for prohexadione calcium.
    5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. Based on the lack of 
evidence of carcinogenicity in two adequate rodent carcinogenicity 
studies, prohexadione calcium is not expected to pose a cancer risk to 
humans.
    6. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA 
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result 
to the general population, or to infants and children from aggregate 
exposure to prohexadione calcium residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (BASF Analytical Method D9601 and 
564/0) is available to enforce the tolerance expression for residues of 
prohexadione calcium in watercress and strawberry samples.
    The method may be requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry 
Branch, Environmental Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 
20755-5350; telephone number: (410) 305-2905; email address: 
[email protected].

B. International Residue Limits

    In making its tolerance decisions, EPA seeks to harmonize U.S. 
tolerances with international standards whenever possible, consistent 
with U.S. food safety standards and agricultural

[[Page 38980]]

practices. EPA considers the international maximum residue limits 
(MRLs) established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as 
required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4). The Codex Alimentarius is a joint 
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health 
Organization food standards program, and it is recognized as an 
international food safety standards-setting organization in trade 
agreements to which the United States is a party. EPA may establish a 
tolerance that is different from a Codex MRL; however, FFDCA section 
408(b)(4) requires that EPA explain the reasons for departing from the 
Codex level.
    The Codex has not established a MRL for prohexadione calcium in/on 
strawberries and watercress.

C. Response to Comments

    One comment was received in response to the notice of filing of IR-
4's petition. The commenter stated this use should be denied due to 
toxicity to bees and that all use of chemicals should be stopped. The 
comment primarily appears directed to the registration of the pesticide 
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 
but to the extent the comment is directed at the present tolerance 
action, the Agency understands the commenter's concerns and recognizes 
that some individuals believe that pesticides should be banned on 
agricultural crops. However, the existing legal framework provided by 
section 408 of FFDCA states that tolerances may be set when persons 
seeking such tolerances or exemptions have demonstrated that the 
pesticide meets the safety standard imposed by that statute. This 
citizen's comment appears to be directed at the underlying statute and 
not EPA's implementation of it; the citizen has made no contention that 
EPA has acted in violation of the statutory framework. As to bees the 
EPA will consider impacts to the environment and non-target species 
under the authority of FIFRA.

D. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances

    The tolerance on watercress has been revised from what was proposed 
in the initial petition. EPA is increasing the proposed tolerance for 
residues in/on watercress from 2 ppm to 4.0 ppm based on the available 
watercress field trial data and the OECD tolerance calculation 
procedure.

 V. Conclusion

    Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of prohexadione 
calcium, calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-propionylcyclohex-3-enecarboxylate, in 
or on strawberry at 0.30 ppm and watercress at 4.0 ppm.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action establishes tolerances under FFDCA section 408(d) in 
response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this action has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not 
subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not contain any 
information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), nor does it require any 
special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal 
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 
Low-Income Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis 
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance in this 
final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.), do not apply.
    This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food 
handlers, and food retailers, not States or tribes, nor does this 
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and 
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions 
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency has determined that 
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or 
tribal governments, on the relationship between the national government 
and the States or tribal governments, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between 
the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has 
determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 
67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply to this action. In addition, this 
action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded 
mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

VII. Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 22, 2015.
Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.

0
2. In Sec.  180.547, add alphabetically the following commodities to 
the table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  180.547  Prohexadione calcium; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Parts per
                         Commodity                             million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Strawberry.................................................         0.30
Watercress.................................................          4.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-16419 Filed 7-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                            38976             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                            [FR Doc. 2015–16632 Filed 7–7–15; 8:45 am]               list of North American Industrial                     DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
                                            BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                   Classification System (NAICS) codes is                NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001.
                                                                                                     not intended to be exhaustive, but rather               • Hand Delivery: To make special
                                                                                                     provides a guide to help readers                      arrangements for hand delivery or
                                            ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                 determine whether this document                       delivery of boxed information, please
                                            AGENCY                                                   applies to them. Potentially affected                 follow the instructions at http://
                                                                                                     entities may include:                                 www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
                                            40 CFR Part 180                                             • Crop production (NAICS code 111).                  Additional instructions on
                                            [EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0346; FRL–9927–25]                         • Animal production (NAICS code                    commenting or visiting the docket,
                                                                                                     112).                                                 along with more information about
                                            Prohexadione Calcium; Pesticide                             • Food manufacturing (NAICS code                   dockets generally, is available at
                                            Tolerances                                               311).                                                 http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
                                                                                                        • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
                                            AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                                                                              II. Summary of Petitioned-For
                                                                                                     code 32532).
                                            Agency (EPA).                                                                                                  Tolerance
                                            ACTION: Final rule.                                      B. How can I get electronic access to                    In the Federal Register of August 1,
                                                                                                     other related information?                            2014 (79 FR 44729) (FRL–9911–67),
                                            SUMMARY:   This regulation establishes                      You may access a frequently updated                EPA issued a document pursuant to
                                            tolerances for residues of prohexadione                  electronic version of EPA’s tolerance                 FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.
                                            calcium in or on strawberry and                          regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through                346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
                                            watercress. Inter-Regional Research                      the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR                pesticide petition (PP 4E8264) by IR–4,
                                            Project Number 4 (IR–4) requested these                  site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-             IR–4 Project Headquarters, Rutgers, The
                                            tolerances under the Federal Food,                       idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/                  State University of New Jersey, 500
                                            Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).                          40tab_02.tpl.                                         College Road East, Suite 201 W,
                                            DATES: This regulation is effective July                                                                       Princeton, NJ 08450. The petition
                                            8, 2015. Objections and requests for                     C. How can I file an objection or hearing             requested that 40 CFR part 180 be
                                            hearings must be received on or before                   request?                                              amended by establishing tolerances for
                                            September 8, 2015, and must be filed in                    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21                      residues of the fungicide prohexadione
                                            accordance with the instructions                         U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an                   calcium, calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-
                                            provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also                    objection to any aspect of this regulation            propionylcyclohex-3-enecarboxylate, in
                                            Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY                           and may also request a hearing on those               or on strawberry at 0.3 parts per million
                                            INFORMATION).                                            objections. You must file your objection              (ppm) and watercress at 2.0 ppm. That
                                            ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,                   or request a hearing on this regulation               document referenced a summary of the
                                            identified by docket identification (ID)                 in accordance with the instructions                   petition prepared by BASF Corporation,
                                            number EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0346, is                          provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure                the registrant, which is available in the
                                            available at http://www.regulations.gov                  proper receipt by EPA, you must                       docket, http://www.regulations.gov. A
                                            or at the Office of Pesticide Programs                   identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–                     comment was received on the notice of
                                            Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)                    OPP–2014–0346 in the subject line on                  filing. EPA’s response to these
                                            in the Environmental Protection Agency                   the first page of your submission. All                comments is discussed in Unit IV.C.
                                            Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William                     objections and requests for a hearing                    Based upon review of the data
                                            Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301                  must be in writing, and must be                       supporting the petition, EPA has
                                            Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC                    received by the Hearing Clerk on or                   amended the tolerance for watercress
                                            20460–0001. The Public Reading Room                      before September 8, 2015. Addresses for               from what the petitioner requested. The
                                            is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,                     mail and hand delivery of objections                  reason for this change is explained in
                                            Monday through Friday, excluding legal                   and hearing requests are provided in 40               Unit IV.D.
                                            holidays. The telephone number for the                   CFR 178.25(b).
                                                                                                       In addition to filing an objection or               III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and
                                            Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,                                                                         Determination of Safety
                                            and the telephone number for the OPP                     hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
                                                                                                     as described in 40 CFR part 178, please                  Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA
                                            Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
                                                                                                     submit a copy of the filing (excluding                allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the
                                            the visitor instructions and additional
                                                                                                     any Confidential Business Information                 legal limit for a pesticide chemical
                                            information about the docket available
                                                                                                     (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.            residue in or on a food) only if EPA
                                            at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
                                                                                                     Information not marked confidential                   determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’
                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                     pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be                      Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA
                                            Susan Lewis, Registration Division                                                                             defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a
                                                                                                     disclosed publicly by EPA without prior
                                            (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,                                                                         reasonable certainty that no harm will
                                                                                                     notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
                                            Environmental Protection Agency, 1200                                                                          result from aggregate exposure to the
                                                                                                     objection or hearing request, identified
                                            Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,                                                                             pesticide chemical residue, including
                                                                                                     by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
                                            DC 20460–0001; main telephone                                                                                  all anticipated dietary exposures and all
                                                                                                     2014–0346, by one of the following
                                            number: (703) 305–7090; email address:                                                                         other exposures for which there is
                                                                                                     methods:
                                            RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
                                                                                                       • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://               reliable information.’’ This includes
                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                exposure through drinking water and in
                                            I. General Information                                   instructions for submitting comments.                 residential settings, but does not include
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                                                                                                     Do not submit electronically any                      occupational exposure. Section
                                            A. Does this action apply to me?                         information you consider to be CBI or                 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to
                                              You may be potentially affected by                     other information whose disclosure is                 give special consideration to exposure
                                            this action if you are an agricultural                   restricted by statute.                                of infants and children to the pesticide
                                            producer, food manufacturer, or                            • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental                   chemical residue in establishing a
                                            pesticide manufacturer. The following                    Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/                 tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                  38977

                                            reasonable certainty that no harm will                         rats, no maternal or developmental                     toxicological points of departure (POD)
                                            result to infants and children from                            toxicity was observed up to the limit                  and levels of concern to use in
                                            aggregate exposure to the pesticide                            dose (1,000 mg/kg/day). Three                          evaluating the risk posed by human
                                            chemical residue . . . .’’                                     developmental studies in rabbits are                   exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
                                               Consistent with FFDCA section                               available in the toxicological database                that have a threshold below which there
                                            408(b)(2)(D), and the factors specified in                     for prohexadione calcium. In one study,                is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
                                            FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has                            late abortions occurred during GD 24–29                POD is used as the basis for derivation
                                            reviewed the available scientific data                         at 200 mg/kg/day, with increased                       of reference values for risk assessment.
                                            and other relevant information in                              mortality in maternal animals (GD 15–                  PODs are developed based on a careful
                                            support of this action. EPA has                                24) also noted at this dose. In another                analysis of the doses in each
                                            sufficient data to assess the hazards of                       rabbit developmental study, two
                                            and to make a determination on                                                                                        toxicological study to determine the
                                                                                                           premature deliveries (on GD 24 and 26)                 dose at which no adverse effects are
                                            aggregate exposure for prohexadione                            were noted at the highest dose tested
                                            calcium including exposure resulting                                                                                  observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest
                                                                                                           (350 mg/kg/day) with no developmental
                                            from the tolerances established by this                                                                               dose at which adverse effects of concern
                                                                                                           effects observed. No maternal or
                                            action. EPA’s assessment of exposures                          developmental effects were seen in a                   are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/
                                            and risks associated with prohexadione                         third rabbit developmental study up to                 safety factors (U/SF) are used in
                                            calcium follows.                                               150 mg/kg/day. In the 2-generation                     conjunction with the POD to calculate a
                                                                                                           reproductive toxicity study with rats,                 safe exposure level—generally referred
                                            A. Toxicological Profile
                                                                                                           parental toxicity (minimal mortality)                  to as a population-adjusted dose (PAD)
                                              EPA has evaluated the available                              occurred at a dose well below the dose                 or a reference dose (RfD)—and a safe
                                            toxicity data and considered its validity,                     that caused decreases in offspring body                margin of exposure (MOE). For non-
                                            completeness, and reliability as well as                                                                              threshold risks, the Agency assumes
                                                                                                           weight (3, 850 mg/kg/day).
                                            the relationship of the results of the                                                                                that any amount of exposure will lead
                                            studies to human risk. EPA has also                               Prohexadione calcium is classified as
                                                                                                           not likely to be carcinogenic to humans                to some degree of risk. Thus, the Agency
                                            considered available information
                                                                                                           based on lack of evidence of                           estimates risk in terms of the probability
                                            concerning the variability of the
                                                                                                           carcinogenicity in rats and mice.                      of an occurrence of the adverse effect
                                            sensitivities of major identifiable
                                            subgroups of consumers, including                                 Specific information on the studies                 expected in a lifetime. For more
                                            infants and children.                                          received and the nature of the adverse                 information on the general principles
                                              The most sensitive effect in the                             effects caused by prohexadione calcium                 EPA uses in risk characterization and a
                                            prohexadione toxicity database by oral                         as well as the no-observed-adverse-                    complete description of the risk
                                            exposure is kidney toxicity in dogs both                       effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-                   assessment process, see http://
                                            for subchronic and chronic durations.                          observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL)                  www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/risk
                                            Minor hematological changes (decreased                         from the toxicity studies can be found                 assess.htm.
                                            white blood cell counts in males), and                         at http://www.regulations.gov in                          A summary of the toxicological
                                            fore-stomach hyperplasia were seen                             document Prohexadione Calcium.
                                                                                                                                                                  endpoints for prohexadione calcium
                                            only at very high doses in rodents. No                         Section 3 Registration for Use on
                                                                                                                                                                  used for human risk assessment is
                                            dermal toxicity was observed up to the                         Strawberry and Watercress. Human
                                                                                                                                                                  shown in the Table of this unit. Since
                                            limit dose of 1,000 milligram/kilogram/                        Health Risk Assessment on pages 11–14
                                                                                                           in docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–                        the assessment in 2011, (November 18,
                                            day (mg/kg/day). There was no evidence
                                                                                                           2014–0346.                                             2011) (76 FR 71459) (FRL–9326–4), the
                                            of neurotoxicity in either of the
                                            neurotoxicity screening batteries up to                                                                               Agency has reevaluated the endpoints
                                                                                                           B. Toxicological Points of Departure/                  and determined that the previously
                                            or exceeding the limit dose.                                   Levels of Concern
                                              In rats and rabbits, no increased                                                                                   identified dermal endpoints are no
                                            quantitative or qualitative pre- or                              Once a pesticide’s toxicological                     longer appropriate.
                                            postnatal susceptibility was observed. In                      profile is determined, EPA identifies

                                            TABLE—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR PROHEXADIONE CALCIUM FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH
                                                                                     RISK ASSESSMENT
                                                                                    Point of departure and un-            RfD, PAD, LOC for risk as-
                                                  Exposure/scenario                                                                                                   Study and toxicological effects
                                                                                     certainty/safety factors                    sessment

                                            Acute dietary (All popu-                No endpoint attributable to a single dose and appropriate for the U.S. general population was seen in the
                                              lations).                                prohexadione calcium toxicological database; therefore, an acute dietary point of departure for the general
                                                                                       U.S. population was not established.

                                            Chronic dietary (All popu-              NOAEL = 20 mg/kg/day ....             Chronic RfD = cPAD =            Chronic toxicity—Dog. LOAEL = 200 mg/kg/day based
                                              lations).                             UFA = 10x .........................     0.20 mg/kg/day.                 on histopathological changes in the kidneys (dilated
                                                                                    UFH = 10x .........................                                     basophilic tubules) and increased urinary volume
                                                                                    FQPA SF = 1x ...................                                        and sodium concentration.
                                            Incidental oral short-term (1           NOAEL= 80 mg/kg/day .....             LOC for MOE = 100 ..........    90-Day oral toxicity—Dog. LOAEL = 400 mg/kg/day
                                              to 30 days) and inter-                UFA = 10x .........................                                     based on moderate cortical areas of dilated baso-
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                                              mediate-term.                         UFH = 10x .........................                                     philic tubules in the kidneys and decreased potas-
                                            (1 to 6 months) ....................    FQPA SF = 1x ...................                                        sium levels.




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                                            38978             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                            TABLE—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR PROHEXADIONE CALCIUM FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH
                                                                               RISK ASSESSMENT—Continued
                                                                                  Point of departure and un-            RfD, PAD, LOC for risk as-
                                                  Exposure/scenario                                                                                                 Study and toxicological effects
                                                                                   certainty/safety factors                    sessment

                                            Dermal short-term (1 to 30            Short-term and intermediate-term dermal endpoints were not selected since there were no adverse dermal or sys-
                                              days) and intermediate-                 temic effects observed in the 28-day dermal study in rats. There was also no evidence of increased quan-
                                              term (1 to 6 months).                   titative or qualitative pre- or postnatal sensitivity in the prohexadione calcium database. Therefore no concern
                                                                                      for any duration of dermal exposure and no dermal endpoints are required

                                            Inhalation short-term (1 to           NOAEL= 40 mg/kg/day .....             LOC for MOE = 100 ..........    Prenatal Developmental Toxicity—Rabbit. Maternal
                                              30 days) and inter-                 UFA = 10x .........................                                     LOAEL = 200 mg/kg/day based on increased mor-
                                              mediate-term (1 to 6                UFH = 10x .........................                                     tality, and abortions.
                                              months).                            FQPA SF = 1x ...................
                                                                                  Inhalation assumed equiv-
                                                                                    alent to oral.

                                            Cancer (Oral, dermal, inha-             ‘‘Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans’’ based upon lack of evidence of carcinogenicity in rats and mice. No
                                              lation).                                             evidence of carcinogenic potential, therefore, cancer risk assessment is not required.
                                              FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. LOC = level of concern. mg/kg/day =
                                            milligram/kilogram/day. MOE = margin of exposure. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-level. PAD = population adjusted dose (a = acute, c =
                                            chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty factor. UFA = extrapolation from animal to human (interspecies). UFH = potential variation in
                                            sensitivity among members of the human population (intraspecies).


                                            C. Exposure Assessment                                          iv. Anticipated residue and percent                    Prohexadione calcium is currently
                                               1. Dietary exposure from food and                         crop treated (PCT) information. EPA did                registered for the following uses that
                                            feed uses. In evaluating dietary                             not use anticipated residue or PCT                     could result in residential exposures:
                                            exposure to prohexadione calcium, EPA                        information in the dietary assessment                  Residential lawns, ornamentals, athletic
                                            considered exposure under the                                for prohexadione calcium. Tolerance-                   fields, parks, and golf courses. EPA
                                            petitioned-for tolerances as well as all                     level residues and/or 100 PCT were                     assessed residential exposure using the
                                            existing prohexadione calcium                                assumed for all food commodities.                      following assumptions: Short-term
                                            tolerances in 40 CFR 180.547. EPA                               2. Dietary exposure from drinking                   residential handler exposures may
                                            assessed dietary exposures from                              water. The Agency used screening level                 result from adults applying
                                            prohexadione calcium in food as                              water exposure models in the dietary                   prohexadione calcium to residential
                                            follows:                                                     exposure analysis and risk assessment                  lawns and ornamentals. The Agency
                                               i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute                     for prohexadione calcium in drinking                   assessed inhalation exposures for adult
                                            dietary exposure and risk assessments                        water. These simulation models take                    handlers applying manually-pressurized
                                            are performed for a food-use pesticide,                      into account data on the physical,                     handwand applications to bedding
                                            if a toxicological study has indicated the                   chemical, and fate/transport                           plants. Short-term exposure is also
                                            possibility of an effect of concern                          characteristics of prohexadione calcium.               possible for post-application incidental
                                            occurring as a result of a 1-day or single                   Further information regarding EPA                      oral exposures of children 1–<2 years
                                            exposure.                                                    drinking water models used in pesticide                old. The Agency assessed hand-to-
                                               No such effects were identified in the                    exposure assessment can be found at                    mouth exposures and incidental soil
                                            toxicological studies for prohexadione                       http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/                    ingestions from applications to turf for
                                            calcium; therefore, a quantitative acute                     water/index.htm.                                       children. Intermediate- and long-term
                                            dietary exposure assessment is                                  Based on the Tier 1 Rice Model and                  exposures are not expected since there
                                            unnecessary.                                                 Screening Concentration in Ground                      are no registered or proposed uses of
                                               ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting                       Water (SCI–GROW) model, the                            prohexadione calcium that result in
                                            the chronic dietary exposure assessment                      estimated drinking water concentrations                intermediate- or long-term residential
                                            EPA used the food consumption data                           (EDWCs) of prohexadione calcium for                    exposures. Further information
                                            from the USDA Nationwide Health and                          chronic exposures for non-cancer                       regarding EPA standard assumptions
                                            Nutrition Examination Survey, What We                        assessments are estimated to be 170                    and generic inputs for residential
                                            Eat In America (NHANES/WWEIA)                                parts per billion (ppb) for surface water              exposures may be found at http://
                                            conducted from 2003–2008. As to                              and 0.137 ppb for ground water.                        www.epa.gov/pesticides/science/
                                            residue levels in food, the chronic                             Modeled estimates of drinking water                 residential-exposure-sop.html.
                                            dietary analysis assumed Dietary                             concentrations were directly entered                      4. Cumulative effects from substances
                                            Exposure Evaluation Model (DEEM)                             into the dietary exposure model. For                   with a common mechanism of toxicity.
                                            (ver. 7.81) default processing factors,                      chronic dietary risk assessment, the                   Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA
                                            100 percent crop treated (PCT) and                           water concentration of value 170 ppb                   requires that, when considering whether
                                            tolerance-level residues for all                             was used to assess the contribution to                 to establish, modify, or revoke a
                                            commodities.                                                 drinking water.                                        tolerance, the Agency consider
                                               iii. Cancer. Based on the data                               3. From non-dietary exposure. The                   ‘‘available information’’ concerning the
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                                            summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has                           term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in               cumulative effects of a particular
                                            concluded that prohexadione calcium                          this document to refer to non-                         pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other
                                            does not pose a cancer risk to humans.                       occupational, non-dietary exposure                     substances that have a common
                                            Therefore, a dietary exposure                                (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control,               mechanism of toxicity.’’
                                            assessment for the purpose of assessing                      indoor pest control, termiticides, and                    EPA has not found prohexadione
                                            cancer risk is unnecessary.                                  flea and tick control on pets).                        calcium to share a common mechanism


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                          38979

                                            of toxicity with any other substances,                   tolerance-level residues, and DEEM (Ver               combined short-term food, water, and
                                            and prohexadione calcium does not                        7.81) default processing factors. EPA                 residential exposures result in aggregate
                                            appear to produce a toxic metabolite                     made conservative (protective)                        MOEs of 14,000 for adults and 2,100 for
                                            produced by other substances. For the                    assumptions in the ground and surface                 children. Because EPA’s level of
                                            purposes of this tolerance action,                       water modeling used to assess exposure                concern for prohexadione calcium is a
                                            therefore, EPA has assumed that                          to prohexadione calcium in drinking                   MOE of 100 or below, these MOEs are
                                            prohexadione calcium does not have a                     water. EPA used similarly conservative                not of concern.
                                            common mechanism of toxicity with                        assumptions to assess post-application                   4. Intermediate-term risk.
                                            other substances. For information                        exposure of children as well as                       Intermediate-term aggregate exposure
                                            regarding EPA’s efforts to determine                     incidental oral exposure of toddlers.                 takes into account intermediate-term
                                            which chemicals have a common                            These assessments will not                            residential exposure plus chronic
                                            mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate                    underestimate the exposure and risks                  exposure to food and water (considered
                                            the cumulative effects of such                           posed by prohexadione calcium.                        to be a background exposure level).
                                            chemicals, see EPA’s Web site at                                                                                  An intermediate-term adverse effect
                                                                                                     E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of
                                            http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/                                                                                 was identified; however, prohexadione
                                                                                                     Safety
                                            cumulative.                                                                                                    calcium is not registered for any use
                                                                                                        EPA determines whether acute and                   patterns that would result in
                                            D. Safety Factor for Infants and                         chronic dietary pesticide exposures are
                                            Children                                                                                                       intermediate-term residential exposure.
                                                                                                     safe by comparing aggregate exposure                  Intermediate-term risk is assessed based
                                               1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of                estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and                 on intermediate-term residential
                                            FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply                      chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer                 exposure plus chronic dietary exposure.
                                            an additional tenfold (10X) margin of                    risks, EPA calculates the lifetime                    Because there is no intermediate-term
                                            safety for infants and children in the                   probability of acquiring cancer given the             residential exposure and chronic dietary
                                            case of threshold effects to account for                 estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,                 exposure has already been assessed
                                            prenatal and postnatal toxicity and the                  intermediate-, and chronic-term risks                 under the appropriately protective
                                            completeness of the database on toxicity                 are evaluated by comparing the                        cPAD (which is at least as protective as
                                            and exposure unless EPA determines                       estimated aggregate food, water, and                  the POD used to assess intermediate-
                                            based on reliable data that a different                  residential exposure to the appropriate               term risk), no further assessment of
                                            margin of safety will be safe for infants                PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE                   intermediate-term risk is necessary, and
                                            and children. This additional margin of                  exists.                                               EPA relies on the chronic dietary risk
                                            safety is commonly referred to as the                       1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk             assessment for evaluating intermediate-
                                            Food Quality Protection Act Safety                       assessment takes into account acute                   term risk for prohexadione calcium.
                                            Factor (FQPA SF). In applying this                       exposure estimates from dietary                          5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.
                                            provision, EPA either retains the default                consumption of food and drinking                      population. Based on the lack of
                                            value of 10X, or uses a different                        water. No adverse effect resulting from               evidence of carcinogenicity in two
                                            additional safety factor when reliable                   a single oral exposure was identified                 adequate rodent carcinogenicity studies,
                                            data are available to EPA support the                    and no acute dietary endpoint was                     prohexadione calcium is not expected to
                                            choice of a different factor.                            selected. Therefore, prohexadione                     pose a cancer risk to humans.
                                               2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.                calcium is not expected to pose an acute                 6. Determination of safety. Based on
                                            There are no residual uncertainties for                  risk.                                                 these risk assessments, EPA concludes
                                            prenatal and postnatal toxicity and there                   2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure
                                                                                                                                                           that there is a reasonable certainty that
                                            is no evidence of increased qualitative                  assumptions described in this unit for
                                                                                                                                                           no harm will result to the general
                                            or quantitative susceptibility of any                    chronic exposure, EPA has concluded
                                                                                                                                                           population, or to infants and children
                                            kind for fetuses and offspring in both                   that chronic exposure to prohexadione
                                                                                                                                                           from aggregate exposure to
                                            rats and rabbits.                                        calcium from food and water will utilize
                                                                                                                                                           prohexadione calcium residues.
                                               3. Conclusion. EPA has determined                     19% of the cPAD for children 1–2 years
                                            that reliable data show the safety of                    old, the population group receiving the               IV. Other Considerations
                                            infants and children would be                            greatest exposure. Based on the
                                                                                                                                                           A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
                                            adequately protected if the FQPA SF                      explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding
                                            were reduced to 1X. That decision is                     residential use patterns, chronic                        Adequate enforcement methodology
                                            based on the following findings:                         residential exposure to residues of                   (BASF Analytical Method D9601 and
                                               i. The toxicity database for                          prohexadione calcium is not expected.                 564/0) is available to enforce the
                                            prohexadione calcium is complete.                           3. Short-term risk. Short-term                     tolerance expression for residues of
                                               ii. There is no indication that                       aggregate exposure takes into account                 prohexadione calcium in watercress and
                                            prohexadione calcium is a neurotoxic                     short-term residential exposure plus                  strawberry samples.
                                            chemical and there is no need for a                      chronic exposure to food and water                       The method may be requested from:
                                            developmental neurotoxicity study or                     (considered to be a background                        Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch,
                                            additional UFs to account for                            exposure level).                                      Environmental Science Center, 701
                                            neurotoxicity.                                              Prohexadione calcium is currently                  Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755–5350;
                                               iii. There is no evidence that                        registered for uses that could result in              telephone number: (410) 305–2905;
                                            prohexadione calcium results in                          short-term residential exposure, and the              email address: residuemethods@
                                            increased susceptibility in in utero rats                Agency has determined that it is                      epa.gov.
                                            or rabbits in the prenatal developmental                 appropriate to aggregate chronic
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                                                                                                                                                           B. International Residue Limits
                                            studies or in young rats in the 2-                       exposure through food and water with
                                            generation reproduction study.                           short-term residential exposures to                     In making its tolerance decisions, EPA
                                               iv. There are no residual uncertainties               prohexadione calcium.                                 seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with
                                            identified in the exposure databases.                       Using the exposure assumptions                     international standards whenever
                                            The dietary food exposure assessments                    described in this unit for short-term                 possible, consistent with U.S. food
                                            were performed based on 100 PCT,                         exposures, EPA has concluded the                      safety standards and agricultural


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                                            38980             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                            practices. EPA considers the                             calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-                              67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply
                                            international maximum residue limits                     propionylcyclohex-3-enecarboxylate, in                to this action. In addition, this action
                                            (MRLs) established by the Codex                          or on strawberry at 0.30 ppm and                      does not impose any enforceable duty or
                                            Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as                      watercress at 4.0 ppm.                                contain any unfunded mandate as
                                            required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4).                                                                           described under Title II of the Unfunded
                                                                                                     VI. Statutory and Executive Order
                                            The Codex Alimentarius is a joint                                                                              Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C.
                                                                                                     Reviews
                                            United Nations Food and Agriculture                                                                            1501 et seq.).
                                            Organization/World Health                                   This action establishes tolerances
                                            Organization food standards program,                     under FFDCA section 408(d) in                           This action does not involve any
                                            and it is recognized as an international                 response to a petition submitted to the               technical standards that would require
                                            food safety standards-setting                            Agency. The Office of Management and                  Agency consideration of voluntary
                                            organization in trade agreements to                      Budget (OMB) has exempted these types                 consensus standards pursuant to section
                                            which the United States is a party. EPA                  of actions from review under Executive                12(d) of the National Technology
                                            may establish a tolerance that is                        Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory                    Transfer and Advancement Act
                                            different from a Codex MRL; however,                     Planning and Review’’ (58 FR 51735,                   (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
                                            FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that                    October 4, 1993). Because this action
                                                                                                     has been exempted from review under                   VII. Congressional Review Act
                                            EPA explain the reasons for departing
                                            from the Codex level.                                    Executive Order 12866, this action is                   Pursuant to the Congressional Review
                                               The Codex has not established a MRL                   not subject to Executive Order 13211,
                                                                                                                                                           Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will
                                            for prohexadione calcium in/on                           entitled ‘‘Actions Concerning
                                                                                                     Regulations That Significantly Affect                 submit a report containing this rule and
                                            strawberries and watercress.                                                                                   other required information to the U.S.
                                                                                                     Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66
                                            C. Response to Comments                                  FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive                  Senate, the U.S. House of
                                               One comment was received in                           Order 13045, entitled ‘‘Protection of                 Representatives, and the Comptroller
                                            response to the notice of filing of IR–4’s               Children from Environmental Health                    General of the United States prior to
                                            petition. The commenter stated this use                  Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,                publication of the rule in the Federal
                                            should be denied due to toxicity to bees                 April 23, 1997). This action does not                 Register. This action is not a ‘‘major
                                            and that all use of chemicals should be                  contain any information collections                   rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                            stopped. The comment primarily                           subject to OMB approval under the
                                                                                                                                                           List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
                                            appears directed to the registration of                  Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
                                            the pesticide under the Federal                          U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), nor does it require               Environmental protection,
                                            Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide                  any special considerations under                      Administrative practice and procedure,
                                            Act (FIFRA), but to the extent the                       Executive Order 12898, entitled                       Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
                                            comment is directed at the present                       ‘‘Federal Actions to Address                          and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                            tolerance action, the Agency                             Environmental Justice in Minority                     requirements.
                                            understands the commenter’s concerns                     Populations and Low-Income
                                            and recognizes that some individuals                     Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16,                 Dated: June 22, 2015.
                                            believe that pesticides should be banned                 1994).                                                Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
                                            on agricultural crops. However, the                         Since tolerances and exemptions that               Director, Registration Division, Office of
                                            existing legal framework provided by                     are established on the basis of a petition            Pesticide Programs.
                                            section 408 of FFDCA states that                         under FFDCA section 408(d), such as
                                            tolerances may be set when persons                       the tolerance in this final rule, do not                Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
                                            seeking such tolerances or exemptions                    require the issuance of a proposed rule,              amended as follows:
                                            have demonstrated that the pesticide                     the requirements of the Regulatory
                                            meets the safety standard imposed by                     Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et                PART 180—[AMENDED]
                                            that statute. This citizen’s comment                     seq.), do not apply.
                                            appears to be directed at the underlying                    This action directly regulates growers,            ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180
                                            statute and not EPA’s implementation of                  food processors, food handlers, and food              continues to read as follows:
                                            it; the citizen has made no contention                   retailers, not States or tribes, nor does
                                                                                                                                                               Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
                                            that EPA has acted in violation of the                   this action alter the relationships or
                                            statutory framework. As to bees the EPA                  distribution of power and                             ■ 2. In § 180.547, add alphabetically the
                                            will consider impacts to the                             responsibilities established by Congress              following commodities to the table in
                                            environment and non-target species                       in the preemption provisions of FFDCA                 paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                            under the authority of FIFRA.                            section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency
                                                                                                     has determined that this action will not              § 180.547 Prohexadione calcium;
                                            D. Revisions to Petitioned-For                           have a substantial direct effect on States            tolerances for residues.
                                            Tolerances                                               or tribal governments, on the                             (a) * * *
                                              The tolerance on watercress has been                   relationship between the national
                                            revised from what was proposed in the                    government and the States or tribal                                                                   Parts per
                                                                                                     governments, or on the distribution of                             Commodity
                                            initial petition. EPA is increasing the                                                                                                                         million
                                            proposed tolerance for residues in/on                    power and responsibilities among the
                                            watercress from 2 ppm to 4.0 ppm based                   various levels of government or between
                                            on the available watercress field trial                  the Federal Government and Indian                        *         *              *               *         *
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                                            data and the OECD tolerance calculation                  tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined               Strawberry ................................           0.30
                                            procedure.                                               that Executive Order 13132, entitled                  Watercress ................................             4.0
                                                                                                     ‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                            V. Conclusion                                            1999) and Executive Order 13175,                      *       *       *        *        *
                                              Therefore, tolerances are established                  entitled ‘‘Consultation and Coordination              [FR Doc. 2015–16419 Filed 7–7–15; 8:45 am]
                                            for residues of prohexadione calcium,                    with Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR               BILLING CODE 6560–50–P




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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:12:16
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:12:16
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis regulation is effective July 8, 2015. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before September 8, 2015, and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ContactSusan Lewis, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone
FR Citation80 FR 38976 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Agricultural Commodities; Pesticides and Pests and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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