81_FR_35001 81 FR 34896 - Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances

81 FR 34896 - Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 105 (June 1, 2016)

Page Range34896-34902
FR Document2016-12722

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluensulfone in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) and Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc (d/b/a ADAMA) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34896-34902]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12722]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0569; FRL-9946-07]


Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
fluensulfone in or on multiple commodities which are identified and 
discussed later in this document. Interregional Research Project Number 
4 (IR-4) and Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc (d/b/a ADAMA) 
requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is June 1, 2016. Objections and requests for 
hearings must be received on or before August 1, 2016, 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-2015-0569, 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-2015-0569 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 August 
1, 2016. 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-2015-0569, 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 October 21, 2015 (80 FR 63731) (FRL-
9935-29), 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 
5E8384) by IR-4, 500 College Road East, Suite 201 W., Princeton, NJ 
08540. The petition requested that 40 CFR part 180 be amended by 
establishing a tolerance for residues of fluensulfone equivalents 
(i.e., the sum of thiazole sulfonic acid (TSA) and butene sulfonic acid 
(BSA) expressed as total fluensulfone equivalents) in or on the raw 
agricultural commodity vegetable, tuberous and corm, subgroup 1C at 0.6 
ppm. That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by 
Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc., the registrant, which is 
available in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. A comment was 
received on the notice of filing, however it related to the chemical 
propenicol, not fluensulfone.
    In the Federal Register of March 16, 2016 (81 FR 14030) (FRL-9942-
86), 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 
5F8351) by Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. (d/b/a ADAMA), 3120 
Highwoods Blvd., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604. The petition requested 
that 40 CFR part 180 be amended by establishing a tolerance for 
residues of nematicide fluensulfone, including its metabolites and 
degradates, in or on berry, low growing, subgroup 13-07G at 0.30 ppm; 
head and stem Brassica subgroup 5A at 1.3 ppm; leafy Brassica greens 
subgroup 5B at 13 ppm; leafy vegetables, group 4, except Brassica 
vegetables at 2.6 ppm; leaves of root and tuber vegetables, group 2 at 
20 ppm; radish, oriental at 0.50 ppm; and root vegetables, subgroup

[[Page 34897]]

1B, except sugar beet and oriental radish at 3.3 ppm. In addition, the 
petition requested to amend 40 CFR 180.680 to revise the existing 
tolerance expression in the introductory paragraph (a) to read 
``Tolerances are established for residues of the nematicide 
fluensulfone, including its metabolites and degradates, in or on the 
commodities in the table below. Compliance with the tolerance levels 
specified below is to be determined by measuring only 3,4,4-trifluoro-
but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid.'' That document referenced a summary of the 
petition prepared by Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc., the 
registrant, which is available in the docket, EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0478 at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Comments were 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 
modified the levels at which tolerances are being established for most 
commodities. The reasons for these changes are 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 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 fluensulfone including exposure 
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's 
assessment of exposures and risks associated with fluensulfone 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 residue of concern for dietary assessment is the parent 
compound, fluensulfone. Residues of the metabolites butene sulfonic 
acid (BSA) and thiazole sulfonic acid (TSA) occur at levels 
significantly greater than fluensulfone; however, these metabolites are 
considered non-toxic at levels that may occur from the use of 
fluensulfone. Based on the available data addressing toxicity of the 
BSA and TSA metabolites, the Agency has determined that they are not of 
toxicological concern.
    Exposure to fluensulfone results in effects on the hematopoietic 
system (decreased platelets, increased white blood cells, hematocrit, 
and reticulocytes), kidneys, and lungs. Body weight and clinical 
chemistry changes were observed across multiple studies and species. 
Evidence of qualitative increased susceptibility of infants and 
children to the effects of fluensulfone was observed in the 2-
generation reproduction study in rats, wherein pup death was observed 
at a dose that resulted in body weight effects in the dams. There was 
no evidence of either qualitative or quantitative susceptibility in 
developmental toxicity studies in rats or rabbits.
    The most sensitive endpoints for assessing safety of aggregate 
exposures to fluensulfone under the FFDCA are the increased pup-loss 
effects for acute dietary exposure; and body weight, hematological and 
clinical chemistry changes for chronic dietary as well as short/
intermediate term dermal exposures.
    Decreased locomotor activity in females, and decreased spontaneous 
activity, decreased rearing, and impaired righting response in both 
sexes were observed in the acute neurotoxicity study at the lowest dose 
tested. No other evidence for neurotoxicity was observed in the other 
studies in the toxicity database, including a subchronic neurotoxicity 
study. The doses and endpoints chosen for risk assessment are all 
protective of the effects seen in the acute neurotoxicity study. A 
developmental neurotoxicity study is not required.
    Although the mouse carcinogenicity study showed an association with 
alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas in the female, EPA has 
determined that quantification of risk using the chronic reference dose 
(RfD) will account for all chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity, 
that could result from exposure to fluensulfone and its metabolites. 
That conclusion is based on the following considerations:
    1. The tumors occurred in only one sex in one species.
    2. No carcinogenic response was seen in either sex in the rat.
    3. The tumors in the mouse study were observed at a dose that is 
almost 13 times higher than the dose chosen for risk assessment.
    4. Fluensulfone and its metabolites are not mutagenic.
    Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the 
adverse effects caused by fluensulfone 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 the document titled ``Fluensulfone--Aggregate 
Human Health Risk Assessment Addressing Label Amendments, Changes to 
the Residue Definition, and New Uses on Multiple Crops'' on page 43 in 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0569.

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 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

[[Page 34898]]

complete description of the risk assessment process, see http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/assessing-human-health-risk-pesticides.
    A summary of the toxicological endpoints for fluensulfone used for 
human risk assessment is shown in Table 1 of this unit.

 Table 1--Summary of Toxicological Doses and Endpoints for Fluensulfone for Use in Human Health Risk Assessment
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                                    Point of departure
        Exposure/scenario            and uncertainty/     RfD, PAD,  LOC for    Study and toxicological effects
                                      safety factors       risk assessment
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Acute dietary (All populations,    NOAEL = 16.2 mg/kg/   Acute RfD = 0.16 mg/ 2-generation reproduction--rat
 including infants and children     day                   kg/day.              offspring.
 and females 13-49 years of age).  UFA = 10x...........  aPAD = 0.16 mg/kg/   LOAEL = 122.0 mg/kg/day based on
                                   UFH = 10x...........   day.                 an increase in pup loss between
                                   FQPA SF = 1x........                        PND 1 and 4 in the F1 and F2
                                                                               offspring with the majority of
                                                                               deaths occurring on day 2.
Chronic dietary (All populations)  NOAEL= 9.6 mg/kg/day  Chronic RfD = 0.10   2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-
                                   UFA = 10x...........   mg/kg/day.           rat.
                                   UFH = 10x...........  cPAD = 0.10 mg/kg/   LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on
                                   FQPA SF = 1x........   day.                 decreased body weight in males,
                                                                               and hematology changes, clinical
                                                                               chemistry changes and
                                                                               histopathological effects in the
                                                                               lung and esophagus of both sexes.
Incidental oral short-term (1 to   NOAEL= 9.6 mg/kg/day  LOC for MOE = 100..  2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-
 30 days).                         UFA = 10x...........                        rat.
                                   UFH = 10x...........                       LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on
                                   FQPA SF = 1x........                        decreased body weight in males,
                                                                               and hematology changes, clinical
                                                                               chemistry changes and
                                                                               histopathological effects in the
                                                                               lung and esophagus of both sexes.
Dermal short-term (1 to 30 days).  Oral study NOAEL =    LOC for MOE = 100..  2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-
                                    9.6 mg/kg/day                              rat.
                                    (dermal absorption                        LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on
                                    factor = 9.5%)                             decreased body weight in males,
                                   UFA = 10x...........                        and hematology changes, clinical
                                   UFH = 10x...........                        chemistry changes and
                                   FQPA SF = 1x........                        histopathological effects in the
                                                                               lung and esophagus of both sexes.
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation)  EPA has determined that quantification of risk using the chronic RfD will
                                    adequately account for all chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity.
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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 fluensulfone, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-
for tolerances as well as all existing fluensulfone tolerances in 40 
CFR 180.680. Parent fluensulfone occurs at residue levels well below 
those of the BSA metabolite, the residue defined for the enforcement of 
tolerances. As previously noted, the BSA metabolite is not of 
toxicological concern. Since tolerances do not include fluensulfone 
itself, EPA has used the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD) maximum residue limit (MRL) calculation procedures 
to derive tolerance-equivalent residue levels for fluensulfone. For 
foods where the level of fluensulfone is expected to be below the limit 
of quantification (LOQ), 0.01 ppm, the Agency has assumed that residues 
occur at the LOQ. For foods with quantifiable levels of fluensulfone, 
EPA has assumed that residues occur at the tolerance-equivalent level. 
EPA assessed dietary exposures from fluensulfone 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.
    Such effects were identified for fluensulfone. In estimating acute 
dietary exposure, EPA used 2003-2008 food consumption information from 
the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Health 
and Nutrition Examination Survey, What We Eat in America, (NHANES/
WWEIA). As to residue levels in food, the acute dietary risk assumed 
tolerance-equivalent residues and 100 percent crop treated (PCT).
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure 
assessment EPA used 2003-2008 food consumption information from the 
USDA's NHANES/WWEIA. As to residue levels in food, the chronic dietary 
risk assumed tolerance-equivalent residues and 100 PCT.
    iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has 
concluded that a nonlinear RfD approach is appropriate for assessing 
cancer risk to fluensulfone. Cancer risk was assessed using the same 
exposure estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii.
    iv. Anticipated residue and PCT information. EPA did not use 
anticipated residue or PCT information in the dietary assessment for 
fluensulfone. Tolerance-equivalent level residues and 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 fluensulfone in drinking water. These simulation models 
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport 
characteristics of fluensulfone. Further information regarding EPA 
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be 
found at http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/about-water-exposure-models-used-pesticide.

[[Page 34899]]

    Based on the Pesticide Root Zone Model/Exposure Analysis Modeling 
System (PRZM/EXAMS) and Pesticide Root Zone Model Ground Water (PRZM 
GW) models, the estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) for 
acute exposures are estimated to be 11.8 parts per billion (ppb) for 
surface water and 77.6 ppb for ground water and for chronic exposures 
are estimated to be 0.173 ppb for surface water and 52.5 ppb for ground 
water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly 
entered into the dietary exposure model. For the acute dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration value of 77.6 ppb was used to 
assess the contribution to drinking water. For the chronic dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration of value 52.5 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). Fluensulfone is 
currently registered for the following uses that could result in 
residential exposures: Turf/lawns. EPA assessed residential exposure 
using the following assumptions: For residential handlers, a 
quantitative exposure/risk assessment was not developed because the 
product is not intended to be applied by homeowners. For adult 
residential post-application exposure, the Agency evaluated dermal 
post-application exposure only to outdoor turf/lawn applications (high 
contact activities). The Agency also evaluated residential post-
application exposure for children via dermal and hand-to-mouth routes 
of exposure, resulting from treated outdoor turf/lawn applications 
(high contact activities).
    Further information regarding EPA standard assumptions and generic 
inputs for residential exposures may be found at http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/standard-operating-procedures-residential-pesticide.
    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 fluensulfone to share a common mechanism of 
toxicity with any other substances, and fluensulfone does not appear to 
produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the 
purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that 
fluensulfone 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://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/cumulative-assessment-risk-pesticides.

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 FQPA Safety 
Factor (SF). In applying this provision, EPA either retains the default 
value of 10X, or uses a different additional safety factor when 
reliable data available to EPA support the choice of a different 
factor.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. No evidence of quantitative 
or qualitative susceptibility was seen in developmental toxicity 
studies in rats and rabbits. Fetal effects in those studies occurred in 
the presence of maternal toxicity and were not considered more severe 
than the maternal effects. However, there was evidence of increased 
qualitative, but not quantitative, susceptibility of pups in the 2-
generation reproduction study in rats. Maternal effects observed in 
that study were decreased body weight and body weight gain; at the same 
dose, effects in offspring were decreased pup weights, decreased spleen 
weight, and increased pup loss (PND 1-4).
    Although there is evidence of increased qualitative susceptibility 
in the 2-generation reproduction study in rats, there are no residual 
uncertainties with regard to pre- and post-natal toxicity following in 
utero exposure to rats or rabbits and pre- and post-natal exposures to 
rats. Considering the overall toxicity profile, the clear NOAEL for the 
pup effects observed in the 2-generation reproduction study, and that 
the doses selected for risk assessment are protective of all effects in 
the toxicity database including the offspring effects, the degree of 
concern for the susceptibility is low.
    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 fluensulfone is complete.
    ii. Evidence of potential neurotoxicity was only seen following 
acute exposure to fluensulfone and the current PODs chosen for risk 
assessment are protective of the effects observed. There is no need for 
a developmental neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to account for 
neurotoxicity.
    iii. There is no indication of quantitative susceptibility in the 
developmental and reproductive toxicity studies, and there are no 
residual uncertainties concerning pre- or post-natal toxicity. In 
addition, the endpoints and doses chosen for risk assessment are 
protective of the qualitative susceptibility observed 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 and tolerance equivalent-level residues. EPA made 
conservative (protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water 
modeling used to assess exposure to fluensulfone 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 fluensulfone.

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. Using the exposure assumptions discussed in this 
unit for acute exposure, the acute dietary exposure from food and water 
to fluensulfone will occupy 9.3% of the aPAD for all infants less than 
1 year old, the population group receiving the greatest exposure.

[[Page 34900]]

    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to 
fluensulfone from food and water will utilize 3.9% of the cPAD for all 
infants less than 1 year 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 
fluensulfone 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).
    Fluensulfone 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 fluensulfone.
    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 5,700 for adults 
and 3,000 for children 1-2 years old. Because EPA's level of concern 
for fluensulfone 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, 
fluensulfone 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 
fluensulfone.
    5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. EPA assessed cancer 
risk using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD) since it adequately 
accounts for all chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity, that 
could result from exposure to fluensulfone. As the chronic dietary 
endpoint and dose are protective of potential cancer effects, 
fluensulfone is not expected to pose an aggregate cancer risk.
    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 fluensulfone residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (acetonitrile/water (1:1, v/v) 
extraction and analysis by reverse-phase high-performance liquid 
chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)) is available to enforce 
the tolerance expression.
    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 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 any MRLs for fluensulfone for the 
commodities covered by this document.

C. Response to Comments

    Three comments were submitted in response to the March 16, 2016 
Notice of Filing. Two of them opposed the petition generally due to 
there being too many toxic chemicals being used in America without 
citing any specific human health concerns about fluensulfone itself. 
The Agency understands the commenters' 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 the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (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. The 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.
    The second comment was from the Center for Food Safety and 
primarily concerned about Agency compliance with any relevant 
obligations under the Endangered Species Act. This comment is not 
relevant to the Agency's evaluation of safety of the fluensulfone 
tolerances; section 408 of the FFDCA focuses on potential harms to 
human health and does not permit consideration of effects on the 
environment.

D. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances

    Most of the petitioned-for tolerance levels differ from those being 
established by the Agency. In the cases of the tolerances proposed by 
ADAMA, it is not clear to the Agency how the tolerance levels proposed 
in the March 16, 2016 Notice of Filing (Federal Register 2016-05952) 
were derived. EPA's tolerance levels are based on residues of BSA only, 
without any conversion to fluensulfone equivalents. The Agency used the 
OECD MRL procedures to derive the levels being established in today's 
action. For crop groups, and per EPA's current policy, tolerance levels 
for each representative commodity were calculated separately, and then 
the maximum value within each crop group was selected as the tolerance 
level. For root vegetables except sugar beet (Subgroup 1B), the 
tolerance level is based on data from radish root (including Oriental 
radish root). Although a separate listing for Oriental radish was 
requested, EPA is not establishing a separate tolerance level since 
that crop is a member of crop subgroup 1B. For leaves of root and tuber 
vegetables (Crop Group 2), EPA is establishing a tolerance for residues 
in/on the leaves of root and tuber vegetable, except sugar beet because 
the petitioned-for uses do not include a use on sugar beet; the 
tolerance is based on data from radish tops (including Oriental radish 
tops). The tolerance for residues in/on leafy vegetables except 
Brassica vegetables (Group 4) is based on data from leaf lettuce and 
spinach, assessed separately. For head and stem Brassica (Subgroup 5A), 
the tolerance is

[[Page 34901]]

based on data from cabbage. For Brassica leafy greens (Subgroup 5B), 
data from mustard greens, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), and 
mizuna (Japanese mustard) were combined to derive the tolerance level. 
All of EPA's tolerance levels are expressed to provide sufficient 
precision for enforcement purposes, and this may include the addition 
of trailing zeros (e.g., 0.30 ppm rather than 0.3 ppm).
    In the case of the tolerance proposed by IR-4, the petitioned-for 
tolerance is based on the sum of residues of BSA and TSA, expressed as 
fluensulfone, rather than on residues of BSA only, which is how the 
tolerance expression currently describes measurement of residues for 
compliance purposes. Basing enforcement on BSA alone provides a 
suitable marker of use, simplifies residue analysis, and avoids 
enforcement complications that may result from the potential for TSA to 
carry over in treated soil from one year to the next. Furthermore, IR-4 
did not propose tolerances for residues of fluensulfone in processed 
potato commodities. The submitted potato processing study indicates 
that during processing, residues of BSA in chips and in granules/flakes 
are likely to concentrate to levels greater than in tubers. Therefore, 
EPA is establishing separate tolerances to cover residues in those 
commodities.

V. Conclusion

    Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of fluensulfone 
in or on berry, low growing, subgroup 13-07G at 0.30 ppm; Brassica, 
head and stem, subgroup 5A at 1.50 ppm; Brassica, leafy greens, 
subgroup 5B at 9.0 ppm; potato, chips at 0.60 ppm; potato, granules/
flakes at 0.80 ppm; vegetables, leafy, except Brassica, group 4 at 2.0 
ppm; vegetable, leaves of root and tuber, group 2, except sugar beet at 
30 ppm; vegetables, root, except sugar beet, subgroup 1B at 3.0 ppm; 
and vegetables, tuberous and corm, subgroup 1C at 0.50 ppm. Also, the 
time-limited Section 18 tolerance for ``carrot'' is removed since it is 
now covered by the permanent tolerance for ``vegetables, root, except 
sugar beet, subgroup 1B.'' And lastly, the tolerance expression is 
changed as requested by the petitioner.

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: May 19, 2016.
Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
Acting 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. Section 180.680 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  180.680  Fluensulfone; tolerances for residues.

    (a) General. Tolerances are established for residues of the 
nematicide fluensulfone, including its metabolites and degradates, in 
or on the commodities in the table below. Compliance with the tolerance 
levels specified below is to be determined by measuring only 3,4,4-
trifluoro-but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Parts per
                          Commodity                             million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berry, low growing, subgroup 13-07G.........................        0.30
Brassica, head and stem, subgroup 5A........................        1.50
Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 5B.........................         9.0
Potato, chips...............................................        0.60
Potato, granules/flakes.....................................        0.80
Tomato, paste...............................................         1.0
Vegetables, cucurbits, group 9..............................        0.50
Vegetables, fruiting, group 8-10............................        0.50
Vegetables, leafy, except Brassica, group 4.................         2.0
Vegetables, leaves of root and tuber, group 2, except sugar           30
 beet.......................................................
Vegetables, root, except sugar beet, subgroup 1B............         3.0
Vegetables, tuberous and corm, subgroup 1C..................        0.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 34902]]

    (b) Section 18 emergency exemptions. [Reserved]
    (c) Tolerances with regional registrations. [Reserved]
    (d) Indirect or inadvertant residues. [Reserved]
[FR Doc. 2016-12722 Filed 5-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                              34896             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                              from the operating regulations is                       I. General Information                                instructions for submitting comments.
                                              authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.                                                                               Do not submit electronically any
                                                                                                      A. Does this action apply to me?
                                                Dated: May 25, 2016.                                                                                        information you consider to be CBI or
                                                                                                         You may be potentially affected by                 other information whose disclosure is
                                              C.J. Bisignano
                                                                                                      this action if you are an agricultural                restricted by statute.
                                              Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist,
                                              First Coast Guard District.
                                                                                                      producer, food manufacturer, or                         • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
                                                                                                      pesticide manufacturer. The following                 Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
                                              [FR Doc. 2016–12740 Filed 5–31–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      list of North American Industrial                     DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
                                              BILLING CODE 9110–04–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 commenting
                                              [EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0569; FRL–9946–07]                        • Animal production (NAICS code                    or visiting the docket, along with more
                                                                                                      112).                                                 information about dockets generally, is
                                              Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerances                         • Food manufacturing (NAICS code                   available at http://www.epa.gov/
                                              AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                       311).                                                 dockets.
                                                                                                         • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
                                              Agency (EPA).                                                                                                 II. Summary of Petitioned-For
                                                                                                      code 32532).
                                              ACTION: Final rule.                                                                                           Tolerance
                                                                                                      B. How can I get electronic access to                    In the Federal Register of October 21,
                                              SUMMARY:   This regulation establishes                  other related information?
                                              tolerances for residues of fluensulfone                                                                       2015 (80 FR 63731) (FRL–9935–29),
                                              in or on multiple commodities which                        You may access a frequently updated                EPA issued a document pursuant to
                                              are identified and discussed later in this              electronic version of EPA’s tolerance                 FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.
                                              document. Interregional Research                        regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through                346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
                                              Project Number 4 (IR–4) and                             the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR                pesticide petition (PP 5E8384) by IR–4,
                                              Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc                   site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-             500 College Road East, Suite 201 W.,
                                              (d/b/a ADAMA) requested these                           idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/                  Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition
                                              tolerances under the Federal Food,                      40tab_02.tpl.                                         requested that 40 CFR part 180 be
                                              Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).                                                                               amended by establishing a tolerance for
                                                                                                      C. How can I file an objection or hearing             residues of fluensulfone equivalents
                                              DATES: This regulation is June 1, 2016.                 request?                                              (i.e., the sum of thiazole sulfonic acid
                                              Objections and requests for hearings
                                                                                                        Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21                      (TSA) and butene sulfonic acid (BSA)
                                              must be received on or before August 1,
                                                                                                      U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an                   expressed as total fluensulfone
                                              2016, and must be filed in accordance
                                                                                                      objection to any aspect of this regulation            equivalents) in or on the raw
                                              with the instructions provided in 40
                                                                                                      and may also request a hearing on those               agricultural commodity vegetable,
                                              CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
                                                                                                      objections. You must file your objection              tuberous and corm, subgroup 1C at 0.6
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
                                                                                                      or request a hearing on this regulation               ppm. That document referenced a
                                              ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,                  in accordance with the instructions                   summary of the petition prepared by
                                              identified by docket identification (ID)                provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure                Makhteshim Agan of North America,
                                              number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0569, is                         proper receipt by EPA, you must                       Inc., the registrant, which is available in
                                              available at http://www.regulations.gov                 identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–                     the docket, http://www.regulations.gov.
                                              or at the Office of Pesticide Programs                  OPP–2015–0569 in the subject line on                  A comment was received on the notice
                                              Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)                   the first page of your submission. All                of filing, however it related to the
                                              in the Environmental Protection Agency                  objections and requests for a hearing                 chemical propenicol, not fluensulfone.
                                              Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William                    must be in writing, and must be                          In the Federal Register of March 16,
                                              Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301                 received by the Hearing Clerk on or                   2016 (81 FR 14030) (FRL–9942–86),
                                              Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC                   August 1, 2016. Addresses for mail and                EPA issued a document pursuant to
                                              20460–0001. The Public Reading Room                     hand delivery of objections and hearing               FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.
                                              is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,                    requests are provided in 40 CFR                       346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
                                              Monday through Friday, excluding legal                  178.25(b).                                            pesticide petition (PP 5F8351) by
                                              holidays. The telephone number for the                    In addition to filing an objection or               Makhteshim Agan of North America,
                                              Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,                  hearing request with the Hearing Clerk                Inc. (d/b/a ADAMA), 3120 Highwoods
                                              and the telephone number for the OPP                    as described in 40 CFR part 178, please               Blvd., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604.
                                              Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review                 submit a copy of the filing (excluding                The petition requested that 40 CFR part
                                              the visitor instructions and additional                 any Confidential Business Information                 180 be amended by establishing a
                                              information about the docket available                  (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.            tolerance for residues of nematicide
                                              at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.                          Information not marked confidential                   fluensulfone, including its metabolites
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be                      and degradates, in or on berry, low
                                              Susan Lewis, Registration Division                      disclosed publicly by EPA without prior               growing, subgroup 13–07G at 0.30 ppm;
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                                              (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,                  notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your               head and stem Brassica subgroup 5A at
                                              Environmental Protection Agency, 1200                   objection or hearing request, identified              1.3 ppm; leafy Brassica greens subgroup
                                              Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,                      by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–                       5B at 13 ppm; leafy vegetables, group 4,
                                              DC 20460–0001; main telephone                           2015–0569, by one of the following                    except Brassica vegetables at 2.6 ppm;
                                              number: (703) 305–7090; email address:                  methods:                                              leaves of root and tuber vegetables,
                                              RDFRNotices@epa.gov.                                      • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://               group 2 at 20 ppm; radish, oriental at
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                0.50 ppm; and root vegetables, subgroup


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         34897

                                              1B, except sugar beet and oriental radish               A. Toxicological Profile                                 Although the mouse carcinogenicity
                                              at 3.3 ppm. In addition, the petition                                                                         study showed an association with
                                              requested to amend 40 CFR 180.680 to                       EPA has evaluated the available                    alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and
                                              revise the existing tolerance expression                toxicity data and considered its validity,            carcinomas in the female, EPA has
                                              in the introductory paragraph (a) to read               completeness, and reliability as well as              determined that quantification of risk
                                              ‘‘Tolerances are established for residues               the relationship of the results of the                using the chronic reference dose (RfD)
                                              of the nematicide fluensulfone,                         studies to human risk. EPA has also                   will account for all chronic toxicity,
                                              including its metabolites and                           considered available information                      including carcinogenicity, that could
                                              degradates, in or on the commodities in                 concerning the variability of the                     result from exposure to fluensulfone
                                              the table below. Compliance with the                    sensitivities of major identifiable                   and its metabolites. That conclusion is
                                              tolerance levels specified below is to be               subgroups of consumers, including                     based on the following considerations:
                                              determined by measuring only 3,4,4-                     infants and children.                                    1. The tumors occurred in only one
                                              trifluoro-but-3-ene-1-sulfonic acid.’’                     The residue of concern for dietary                 sex in one species.
                                              That document referenced a summary of                   assessment is the parent compound,                       2. No carcinogenic response was seen
                                              the petition prepared by Makhteshim                     fluensulfone. Residues of the                         in either sex in the rat.
                                              Agan of North America, Inc., the                        metabolites butene sulfonic acid (BSA)                   3. The tumors in the mouse study
                                              registrant, which is available in the                   and thiazole sulfonic acid (TSA) occur                were observed at a dose that is almost
                                              docket, EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0478 at                         at levels significantly greater than                  13 times higher than the dose chosen for
                                              http://www.regulations.gov. Comments                    fluensulfone; however, these                          risk assessment.
                                              were received on the notice of filing.                  metabolites are considered non-toxic at                  4. Fluensulfone and its metabolites
                                              EPA’s response to these comments is                     levels that may occur from the use of                 are not mutagenic.
                                              discussed in Unit IV.C.                                 fluensulfone. Based on the available                     Specific information on the studies
                                                 Based upon review of the data                        data addressing toxicity of the BSA and               received and the nature of the adverse
                                              supporting the petition, EPA has                        TSA metabolites, the Agency has                       effects caused by fluensulfone as well as
                                              modified the levels at which tolerances                 determined that they are not of                       the no-observed-adverse-effect-level
                                              are being established for most                          toxicological concern.                                (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-
                                              commodities. The reasons for these                                                                            adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
                                                                                                         Exposure to fluensulfone results in
                                              changes are explained in Unit IV.D.                                                                           toxicity studies can be found at http://
                                                                                                      effects on the hematopoietic system
                                                                                                                                                            www.regulations.gov in the document
                                              III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and                      (decreased platelets, increased white
                                                                                                                                                            titled ‘‘Fluensulfone—Aggregate Human
                                              Determination of Safety                                 blood cells, hematocrit, and
                                                                                                                                                            Health Risk Assessment Addressing
                                                                                                      reticulocytes), kidneys, and lungs. Body
                                                 Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA                                                                           Label Amendments, Changes to the
                                                                                                      weight and clinical chemistry changes
                                              allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the                                                                      Residue Definition, and New Uses on
                                                                                                      were observed across multiple studies
                                              legal limit for a pesticide chemical                                                                          Multiple Crops’’ on page 43 in docket ID
                                                                                                      and species. Evidence of qualitative
                                              residue in or on a food) only if EPA                                                                          number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0569.
                                                                                                      increased susceptibility of infants and
                                              determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’
                                                                                                      children to the effects of fluensulfone               B. Toxicological Points of Departure/
                                              Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA
                                                                                                      was observed in the 2-generation                      Levels of Concern
                                              defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a
                                                                                                      reproduction study in rats, wherein pup                  Once a pesticide’s toxicological
                                              reasonable certainty that no harm will
                                                                                                      death was observed at a dose that                     profile is determined, EPA identifies
                                              result from aggregate exposure to the
                                                                                                      resulted in body weight effects in the                toxicological points of departure (POD)
                                              pesticide chemical residue, including
                                                                                                      dams. There was no evidence of either                 and levels of concern to use in
                                              all anticipated dietary exposures and all
                                                                                                      qualitative or quantitative susceptibility            evaluating the risk posed by human
                                              other exposures for which there is
                                                                                                      in developmental toxicity studies in rats             exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
                                              reliable information.’’ This includes
                                              exposure through drinking water and in                  or rabbits.                                           that have a threshold below which there
                                              residential settings, but does not include                 The most sensitive endpoints for                   is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
                                              occupational exposure. Section                          assessing safety of aggregate exposures               POD is used as the basis for derivation
                                              408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to                   to fluensulfone under the FFDCA are                   of reference values for risk assessment.
                                              give special consideration to exposure                  the increased pup-loss effects for acute              PODs are developed based on a careful
                                              of infants and children to the pesticide                dietary exposure; and body weight,                    analysis of the doses in each
                                              chemical residue in establishing a                      hematological and clinical chemistry                  toxicological study to determine the
                                              tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a               changes for chronic dietary as well as                dose at which no adverse effects are
                                              reasonable certainty that no harm will                  short/intermediate term dermal                        observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest
                                              result to infants and children from                     exposures.                                            dose at which adverse effects of concern
                                              aggregate exposure to the pesticide                        Decreased locomotor activity in                    are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/
                                              chemical residue . . . .’’                              females, and decreased spontaneous                    safety factors are used in conjunction
                                                 Consistent with FFDCA section                        activity, decreased rearing, and                      with the POD to calculate a safe
                                              408(b)(2)(D), and the factors specified in              impaired righting response in both sexes              exposure level—generally referred to as
                                              FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has                     were observed in the acute                            a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a
                                              reviewed the available scientific data                  neurotoxicity study at the lowest dose                reference dose (RfD)—and a safe margin
                                              and other relevant information in                       tested. No other evidence for                         of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold
                                              support of this action. EPA has                         neurotoxicity was observed in the other               risks, the Agency assumes that any
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                                              sufficient data to assess the hazards of                studies in the toxicity database,                     amount of exposure will lead to some
                                              and to make a determination on                          including a subchronic neurotoxicity                  degree of risk. Thus, the Agency
                                              aggregate exposure for fluensulfone                     study. The doses and endpoints chosen                 estimates risk in terms of the probability
                                              including exposure resulting from the                   for risk assessment are all protective of             of an occurrence of the adverse effect
                                              tolerances established by this action.                  the effects seen in the acute                         expected in a lifetime. For more
                                              EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks                 neurotoxicity study. A developmental                  information on the general principles
                                              associated with fluensulfone follows.                   neurotoxicity study is not required.                  EPA uses in risk characterization and a


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                                              34898             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                              complete description of the risk                        assessing-pesticide-risks/assessing-                  human risk assessment is shown in
                                              assessment process, see http://                         human-health-risk-pesticides.                         Table 1 of this unit.
                                              www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-                       A summary of the toxicological
                                                                                                      endpoints for fluensulfone used for
                                                TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR FLUENSULFONE FOR USE IN HUMAN HEALTH RISK
                                                                                           ASSESSMENT
                                                                                       Point of departure            RfD, PAD,
                                                     Exposure/scenario                  and uncertainty/               LOC for                              Study and toxicological effects
                                                                                         safety factors           risk assessment

                                              Acute dietary (All populations,        NOAEL = 16.2 mg/          Acute RfD = 0.16           2-generation reproduction—rat offspring.
                                                including infants and children         kg/day                    mg/kg/day.               LOAEL = 122.0 mg/kg/day based on an increase in pup loss
                                                and females 13–49 years of           UFA = 10x                 aPAD = 0.16 mg/kg/           between PND 1 and 4 in the F1 and F2 offspring with the
                                                age).                                UFH = 10x                   day                        majority of deaths occurring on day 2.
                                                                                     FQPA SF = 1x
                                              Chronic dietary (All populations)      NOAEL= 9.6 mg/kg/         Chronic RfD = 0.10         2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-rat.
                                                                                       day                       mg/kg/day.               LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on decreased body weight in
                                                                                     UFA = 10x                 cPAD = 0.10 mg/kg/           males, and hematology changes, clinical chemistry changes
                                                                                     UFH = 10x                   day                        and histopathological effects in the lung and esophagus of
                                                                                     FQPA SF = 1x                                           both sexes.
                                              Incidental oral short-term (1 to       NOAEL= 9.6 mg/kg/         LOC for MOE = 100          2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-rat.
                                                30 days).                              day                                                LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on decreased body weight in
                                                                                     UFA = 10x                                              males, and hematology changes, clinical chemistry changes
                                                                                     UFH = 10x                                              and histopathological effects in the lung and esophagus of
                                                                                     FQPA SF = 1x                                           both sexes.
                                              Dermal short-term (1 to 30             Oral study NOAEL =        LOC for MOE = 100          2-year toxicity/carcinogenicity-rat.
                                                days).                                 9.6 mg/kg/day                                      LOAEL = 57.7 mg/kg/day based on decreased body weight in
                                                                                       (dermal absorption                                   males, and hematology changes, clinical chemistry changes
                                                                                       factor = 9.5%)                                       and histopathological effects in the lung and esophagus of
                                                                                     UFA = 10x                                              both sexes.
                                                                                     UFH = 10x
                                                                                     FQPA SF = 1x

                                              Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhala-          EPA has determined that quantification of risk using the chronic RfD will adequately account for all chronic tox-
                                                tion).                               icity, including carcinogenicity.
                                                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                                  exposures from fluensulfone in food as                   iii. Cancer. Based on the data
                                                                                                      follows:                                              summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has
                                                 1. Dietary exposure from food and                       i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute              concluded that a nonlinear RfD
                                              feed uses. In evaluating dietary                        dietary exposure and risk assessments                 approach is appropriate for assessing
                                              exposure to fluensulfone, EPA                           are performed for a food-use pesticide,               cancer risk to fluensulfone. Cancer risk
                                              considered exposure under the                           if a toxicological study has indicated the            was assessed using the same exposure
                                              petitioned-for tolerances as well as all                possibility of an effect of concern                   estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii.
                                              existing fluensulfone tolerances in 40                  occurring as a result of a 1-day or single               iv. Anticipated residue and PCT
                                              CFR 180.680. Parent fluensulfone occurs                 exposure.                                             information. EPA did not use
                                              at residue levels well below those of the                  Such effects were identified for                   anticipated residue or PCT information
                                              BSA metabolite, the residue defined for                 fluensulfone. In estimating acute dietary             in the dietary assessment for
                                              the enforcement of tolerances. As                       exposure, EPA used 2003–2008 food                     fluensulfone. Tolerance-equivalent level
                                              previously noted, the BSA metabolite is                 consumption information from the                      residues and 100 PCT were assumed for
                                              not of toxicological concern. Since                     United States Department of                           all food commodities.
                                              tolerances do not include fluensulfone                  Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Health                   2. Dietary exposure from drinking
                                              itself, EPA has used the Organization for               and Nutrition Examination Survey,                     water. The Agency used screening level
                                              Economic Cooperation and                                What We Eat in America, (NHANES/                      water exposure models in the dietary
                                              Development (OECD) maximum residue                      WWEIA). As to residue levels in food,                 exposure analysis and risk assessment
                                              limit (MRL) calculation procedures to                   the acute dietary risk assumed                        for fluensulfone in drinking water.
                                              derive tolerance-equivalent residue                     tolerance-equivalent residues and 100                 These simulation models take into
                                              levels for fluensulfone. For foods where                percent crop treated (PCT).                           account data on the physical, chemical,
                                              the level of fluensulfone is expected to                   ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting                and fate/transport characteristics of
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                                              be below the limit of quantification                    the chronic dietary exposure assessment               fluensulfone. Further information
                                              (LOQ), 0.01 ppm, the Agency has                         EPA used 2003–2008 food consumption                   regarding EPA drinking water models
                                              assumed that residues occur at the LOQ.                 information from the USDA’s NHANES/                   used in pesticide exposure assessment
                                              For foods with quantifiable levels of                   WWEIA. As to residue levels in food,                  can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/
                                              fluensulfone, EPA has assumed that                      the chronic dietary risk assumed                      pesticide-science-and-assessing-
                                              residues occur at the tolerance-                        tolerance-equivalent residues and 100                 pesticide-risks/about-water-exposure-
                                              equivalent level. EPA assessed dietary                  PCT.                                                  models-used-pesticide.


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         34899

                                                 Based on the Pesticide Root Zone                     fluensulfone does not appear to produce               effects, the degree of concern for the
                                              Model/Exposure Analysis Modeling                        a toxic metabolite produced by other                  susceptibility is low.
                                              System (PRZM/EXAMS) and Pesticide                       substances. For the purposes of this                     3. Conclusion. EPA has determined
                                              Root Zone Model Ground Water (PRZM                      tolerance action, therefore, EPA has                  that reliable data show the safety of
                                              GW) models, the estimated drinking                      assumed that fluensulfone does not                    infants and children would be
                                              water concentrations (EDWCs) for acute                  have a common mechanism of toxicity                   adequately protected if the FQPA SF
                                              exposures are estimated to be 11.8 parts                with other substances. For information                were reduced to 1x. That decision is
                                              per billion (ppb) for surface water and                 regarding EPA’s efforts to determine                  based on the following findings:
                                              77.6 ppb for ground water and for                       which chemicals have a common                            i. The toxicity database for
                                              chronic exposures are estimated to be                   mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate                 fluensulfone is complete.
                                              0.173 ppb for surface water and 52.5                    the cumulative effects of such                           ii. Evidence of potential neurotoxicity
                                              ppb for ground water.                                   chemicals, see EPA’s Web site at http://              was only seen following acute exposure
                                                 Modeled estimates of drinking water                  www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-                   to fluensulfone and the current PODs
                                              concentrations were directly entered                    assessing-pesticide-risks/cumulative-                 chosen for risk assessment are
                                              into the dietary exposure model. For the                assessment-risk-pesticides.                           protective of the effects observed. There
                                              acute dietary risk assessment, the water                                                                      is no need for a developmental
                                              concentration value of 77.6 ppb was                     D. Safety Factor for Infants and
                                                                                                      Children                                              neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to
                                              used to assess the contribution to                                                                            account for neurotoxicity.
                                              drinking water. For the chronic dietary                    1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of                iii. There is no indication of
                                              risk assessment, the water concentration                FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply                   quantitative susceptibility in the
                                              of value 52.5 ppb was used to assess the                an additional tenfold (10X) margin of                 developmental and reproductive
                                              contribution to drinking water.                         safety for infants and children in the                toxicity studies, and there are no
                                                 3. From non-dietary exposure. The                    case of threshold effects to account for              residual uncertainties concerning pre-
                                              term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in                prenatal and postnatal toxicity and the               or post-natal toxicity. In addition, the
                                              this document to refer to non-                          completeness of the database on toxicity
                                              occupational, non-dietary exposure                                                                            endpoints and doses chosen for risk
                                                                                                      and exposure unless EPA determines                    assessment are protective of the
                                              (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control,                based on reliable data that a different
                                              indoor pest control, termiticides, and                                                                        qualitative susceptibility observed in
                                                                                                      margin of safety will be safe for infants             the 2-generation reproduction study.
                                              flea and tick control on pets).                         and children. This additional margin of
                                              Fluensulfone is currently registered for                                                                         iv. There are no residual uncertainties
                                                                                                      safety is commonly referred to as the                 identified in the exposure databases.
                                              the following uses that could result in                 FQPA Safety Factor (SF). In applying
                                              residential exposures: Turf/lawns. EPA                                                                        The dietary food exposure assessments
                                                                                                      this provision, EPA either retains the                were performed based on 100 PCT and
                                              assessed residential exposure using the
                                                                                                      default value of 10X, or uses a different             tolerance equivalent-level residues. EPA
                                              following assumptions: For residential
                                                                                                      additional safety factor when reliable                made conservative (protective)
                                              handlers, a quantitative exposure/risk
                                                                                                      data available to EPA support the choice              assumptions in the ground and surface
                                              assessment was not developed because
                                                                                                      of a different factor.                                water modeling used to assess exposure
                                              the product is not intended to be
                                              applied by homeowners. For adult                           2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.             to fluensulfone in drinking water. EPA
                                              residential post-application exposure,                  No evidence of quantitative or                        used similarly conservative assumptions
                                              the Agency evaluated dermal post-                       qualitative susceptibility was seen in                to assess post-application exposure of
                                              application exposure only to outdoor                    developmental toxicity studies in rats                children as well as incidental oral
                                              turf/lawn applications (high contact                    and rabbits. Fetal effects in those studies           exposure of toddlers. These assessments
                                              activities). The Agency also evaluated                  occurred in the presence of maternal                  will not underestimate the exposure and
                                              residential post-application exposure for               toxicity and were not considered more                 risks posed by fluensulfone.
                                              children via dermal and hand-to-mouth                   severe than the maternal effects.
                                                                                                      However, there was evidence of                        E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of
                                              routes of exposure, resulting from                                                                            Safety
                                              treated outdoor turf/lawn applications                  increased qualitative, but not
                                              (high contact activities).                              quantitative, susceptibility of pups in                  EPA determines whether acute and
                                                 Further information regarding EPA                    the 2-generation reproduction study in                chronic dietary pesticide exposures are
                                              standard assumptions and generic                        rats. Maternal effects observed in that               safe by comparing aggregate exposure
                                              inputs for residential exposures may be                 study were decreased body weight and                  estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and
                                              found at http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-                 body weight gain; at the same dose,                   chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer
                                              science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/                  effects in offspring were decreased pup               risks, EPA calculates the lifetime
                                              standard-operating-procedures-                          weights, decreased spleen weight, and                 probability of acquiring cancer given the
                                              residential-pesticide.                                  increased pup loss (PND 1–4).                         estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,
                                                 4. Cumulative effects from substances                   Although there is evidence of                      intermediate-, and chronic-term risks
                                              with a common mechanism of toxicity.                    increased qualitative susceptibility in               are evaluated by comparing the
                                              Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA                        the 2-generation reproduction study in                estimated aggregate food, water, and
                                              requires that, when considering whether                 rats, there are no residual uncertainties             residential exposure to the appropriate
                                              to establish, modify, or revoke a                       with regard to pre- and post-natal                    PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE
                                              tolerance, the Agency consider                          toxicity following in utero exposure to               exists.
                                              ‘‘available information’’ concerning the                rats or rabbits and pre- and post-natal                  1. Acute risk. Using the exposure
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                                              cumulative effects of a particular                      exposures to rats. Considering the                    assumptions discussed in this unit for
                                              pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other                        overall toxicity profile, the clear NOAEL             acute exposure, the acute dietary
                                              substances that have a common                           for the pup effects observed in the 2-                exposure from food and water to
                                              mechanism of toxicity.’’                                generation reproduction study, and that               fluensulfone will occupy 9.3% of the
                                                 EPA has not found fluensulfone to                    the doses selected for risk assessment                aPAD for all infants less than 1 year old,
                                              share a common mechanism of toxicity                    are protective of all effects in the                  the population group receiving the
                                              with any other substances, and                          toxicity database including the offspring             greatest exposure.


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                                              34900             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                 2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure                  is not expected to pose an aggregate                  existing legal framework provided by
                                              assumptions described in this unit for                  cancer risk.                                          section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug
                                              chronic exposure, EPA has concluded                        6. Determination of safety. Based on               and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) states that
                                              that chronic exposure to fluensulfone                   these risk assessments, EPA concludes                 tolerances may be set when persons
                                              from food and water will utilize 3.9% of                that there is a reasonable certainty that             seeking such tolerances or exemptions
                                              the cPAD for all infants less than 1 year               no harm will result to the general                    have demonstrated that the pesticide
                                              old, the population group receiving the                 population, or to infants and children                meets the safety standard imposed by
                                              greatest exposure. Based on the                         from aggregate exposure to fluensulfone               that statute. The comment appears to be
                                              explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding                 residues.                                             directed at the underlying statute and
                                              residential use patterns, chronic                                                                             not EPA’s implementation of it; the
                                              residential exposure to residues of                     IV. Other Considerations                              citizen has made no contention that
                                              fluensulfone is not expected.                           A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology                 EPA has acted in violation of the
                                                 3. Short-term risk. Short-term                                                                             statutory framework.
                                              aggregate exposure takes into account                      Adequate enforcement methodology                      The second comment was from the
                                              short-term residential exposure plus                    (acetonitrile/water (1:1, v/v) extraction             Center for Food Safety and primarily
                                              chronic exposure to food and water                      and analysis by reverse-phase high-                   concerned about Agency compliance
                                              (considered to be a background                          performance liquid chromatography-                    with any relevant obligations under the
                                              exposure level).                                        mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS)) is                    Endangered Species Act. This comment
                                                 Fluensulfone is currently registered                 available to enforce the tolerance                    is not relevant to the Agency’s
                                              for uses that could result in short-term                expression.                                           evaluation of safety of the fluensulfone
                                              residential exposure, and the Agency                       The method may be requested from:                  tolerances; section 408 of the FFDCA
                                              has determined that it is appropriate to                Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch,                   focuses on potential harms to human
                                              aggregate chronic exposure through food                 Environmental Science Center, 701                     health and does not permit
                                              and water with short-term residential                   Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755–5350;                  consideration of effects on the
                                              exposures to fluensulfone.                              telephone number: (410) 305–2905;                     environment.
                                                 Using the exposure assumptions                       email address: residuemethods@
                                              described in this unit for short-term                   epa.gov.                                              D. Revisions to Petitioned-For
                                              exposures, EPA has concluded the                                                                              Tolerances
                                                                                                      B. International Residue Limits
                                              combined short-term food, water, and                                                                             Most of the petitioned-for tolerance
                                              residential exposures result in aggregate                 In making its tolerance decisions, EPA              levels differ from those being
                                              MOEs of 5,700 for adults and 3,000 for                  seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with               established by the Agency. In the cases
                                              children 1–2 years old. Because EPA’s                   international standards whenever                      of the tolerances proposed by ADAMA,
                                              level of concern for fluensulfone is a                  possible, consistent with U.S. food                   it is not clear to the Agency how the
                                              MOE of 100 or below, these MOEs are                     safety standards and agricultural                     tolerance levels proposed in the March
                                              not of concern.                                         practices. EPA considers the                          16, 2016 Notice of Filing (Federal
                                                 4. Intermediate-term risk.                           international maximum residue limits                  Register 2016–05952) were derived.
                                              Intermediate-term aggregate exposure                    (MRLs) established by the Codex                       EPA’s tolerance levels are based on
                                              takes into account intermediate-term                    Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as                   residues of BSA only, without any
                                              residential exposure plus chronic                       required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4).                  conversion to fluensulfone equivalents.
                                              exposure to food and water (considered                  The Codex Alimentarius is a joint                     The Agency used the OECD MRL
                                              to be a background exposure level).                     United Nations Food and Agriculture                   procedures to derive the levels being
                                                 An intermediate-term adverse effect                  Organization/World Health                             established in today’s action. For crop
                                              was identified; however, fluensulfone is                Organization food standards program,                  groups, and per EPA’s current policy,
                                              not registered for any use patterns that                and it is recognized as an international              tolerance levels for each representative
                                              would result in intermediate-term                       food safety standards-setting                         commodity were calculated separately,
                                              residential exposure. Intermediate-term                 organization in trade agreements to                   and then the maximum value within
                                              risk is assessed based on intermediate-                 which the United States is a party. EPA               each crop group was selected as the
                                              term residential exposure plus chronic                  may establish a tolerance that is                     tolerance level. For root vegetables
                                              dietary exposure. Because there is no                   different from a Codex MRL; however,                  except sugar beet (Subgroup 1B), the
                                              intermediate-term residential exposure                  FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that                 tolerance level is based on data from
                                              and chronic dietary exposure has                        EPA explain the reasons for departing                 radish root (including Oriental radish
                                              already been assessed under the                         from the Codex level.                                 root). Although a separate listing for
                                              appropriately protective cPAD (which is                   The Codex has not established any                   Oriental radish was requested, EPA is
                                              at least as protective as the POD used to               MRLs for fluensulfone for the                         not establishing a separate tolerance
                                              assess intermediate-term risk), no                      commodities covered by this document.                 level since that crop is a member of crop
                                              further assessment of intermediate-term                                                                       subgroup 1B. For leaves of root and
                                                                                                      C. Response to Comments                               tuber vegetables (Crop Group 2), EPA is
                                              risk is necessary, and EPA relies on the
                                              chronic dietary risk assessment for                        Three comments were submitted in                   establishing a tolerance for residues in/
                                              evaluating intermediate-term risk for                   response to the March 16, 2016 Notice                 on the leaves of root and tuber
                                              fluensulfone.                                           of Filing. Two of them opposed the                    vegetable, except sugar beet because the
                                                 5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.                    petition generally due to there being too             petitioned-for uses do not include a use
                                              population. EPA assessed cancer risk                    many toxic chemicals being used in                    on sugar beet; the tolerance is based on
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                                              using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD)                 America without citing any specific                   data from radish tops (including
                                              since it adequately accounts for all                    human health concerns about                           Oriental radish tops). The tolerance for
                                              chronic toxicity, including                             fluensulfone itself. The Agency                       residues in/on leafy vegetables except
                                              carcinogenicity, that could result from                 understands the commenters’ concerns                  Brassica vegetables (Group 4) is based
                                              exposure to fluensulfone. As the chronic                and recognizes that some individuals                  on data from leaf lettuce and spinach,
                                              dietary endpoint and dose are protective                believe that pesticides should be banned              assessed separately. For head and stem
                                              of potential cancer effects, fluensulfone               on agricultural crops. However, the                   Brassica (Subgroup 5A), the tolerance is


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                            34901

                                              based on data from cabbage. For                         Planning and Review’’ (58 FR 51735,                   VII. Congressional Review Act
                                              Brassica leafy greens (Subgroup 5B),                    October 4, 1993). Because this action
                                              data from mustard greens, komatsuna                     has been exempted from review under                     Pursuant to the Congressional Review
                                              (Japanese mustard spinach), and mizuna                  Executive Order 12866, this action is                 Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will
                                              (Japanese mustard) were combined to                     not subject to Executive Order 13211,                 submit a report containing this rule and
                                              derive the tolerance level. All of EPA’s                entitled ‘‘Actions Concerning                         other required information to the U.S.
                                              tolerance levels are expressed to provide               Regulations That Significantly Affect                 Senate, the U.S. House of
                                              sufficient precision for enforcement                    Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66             Representatives, and the Comptroller
                                              purposes, and this may include the                      FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive                  General of the United States prior to
                                              addition of trailing zeros (e.g., 0.30 ppm              Order 13045, entitled ‘‘Protection of                 publication of the rule in the Federal
                                              rather than 0.3 ppm).                                   Children from Environmental Health                    Register. This action is not a ‘‘major
                                                 In the case of the tolerance proposed                Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,                rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                              by IR–4, the petitioned-for tolerance is                April 23, 1997). This action does not                 List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
                                              based on the sum of residues of BSA                     contain any information collections
                                              and TSA, expressed as fluensulfone,                     subject to OMB approval under the                       Environmental protection,
                                              rather than on residues of BSA only,                    Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44                     Administrative practice and procedure,
                                              which is how the tolerance expression                   U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), nor does it require             Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
                                              currently describes measurement of                      any special considerations under                      and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                              residues for compliance purposes.                       Executive Order 12898, entitled                       requirements.
                                              Basing enforcement on BSA alone                         ‘‘Federal Actions to Address                             Dated: May 19, 2016.
                                              provides a suitable marker of use,                      Environmental Justice in Minority                     Daniel J. Rosenblatt,
                                              simplifies residue analysis, and avoids                 Populations and Low-Income                            Acting Director, Registration Division, Office
                                              enforcement complications that may                      Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16,               of Pesticide Programs.
                                              result from the potential for TSA to                    1994).
                                              carry over in treated soil from one year                   Since tolerances and exemptions that                 Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
                                              to the next. Furthermore, IR–4 did not                  are established on the basis of a petition            amended as follows:
                                              propose tolerances for residues of                      under FFDCA section 408(d), such as
                                              fluensulfone in processed potato                        the tolerance in this final rule, do not              PART 180—[AMENDED]
                                              commodities. The submitted potato                       require the issuance of a proposed rule,
                                              processing study indicates that during                  the requirements of the Regulatory                    ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180
                                              processing, residues of BSA in chips                    Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et                continues to read as follows:
                                              and in granules/flakes are likely to                    seq.), do not apply.                                      Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
                                              concentrate to levels greater than in                      This action directly regulates growers,
                                              tubers. Therefore, EPA is establishing                  food processors, food handlers, and food              ■ 2. Section 180.680 is revised to read
                                              separate tolerances to cover residues in                retailers, not States or tribes, nor does             as follows:
                                              those commodities.                                      this action alter the relationships or                § 180.680 Fluensulfone; tolerances for
                                                                                                      distribution of power and                             residues.
                                              V. Conclusion                                           responsibilities established by Congress
                                                 Therefore, tolerances are established                in the preemption provisions of FFDCA                   (a) General. Tolerances are
                                              for residues of fluensulfone in or on                   section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency                established for residues of the
                                              berry, low growing, subgroup 13–07G at                  has determined that this action will not              nematicide fluensulfone, including its
                                              0.30 ppm; Brassica, head and stem,                      have a substantial direct effect on States            metabolites and degradates, in or on the
                                              subgroup 5A at 1.50 ppm; Brassica,                      or tribal governments, on the                         commodities in the table below.
                                              leafy greens, subgroup 5B at 9.0 ppm;                   relationship between the national                     Compliance with the tolerance levels
                                              potato, chips at 0.60 ppm; potato,                      government and the States or tribal                   specified below is to be determined by
                                              granules/flakes at 0.80 ppm; vegetables,                governments, or on the distribution of                measuring only 3,4,4-trifluoro-but-3-
                                              leafy, except Brassica, group 4 at 2.0                  power and responsibilities among the                  ene-1-sulfonic acid.
                                              ppm; vegetable, leaves of root and tuber,               various levels of government or between
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Parts per
                                              group 2, except sugar beet at 30 ppm;                   the Federal Government and Indian                                     Commodity                            million
                                              vegetables, root, except sugar beet,                    tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined
                                              subgroup 1B at 3.0 ppm; and vegetables,                 that Executive Order 13132, entitled                  Berry, low growing, subgroup
                                              tuberous and corm, subgroup 1C at 0.50                  ‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,                 13–07G ...................................             0.30
                                              ppm. Also, the time-limited Section 18                  1999) and Executive Order 13175,                      Brassica, head and stem, sub-
                                              tolerance for ‘‘carrot’’ is removed since               entitled ‘‘Consultation and Coordination                group 5A .................................             1.50
                                              it is now covered by the permanent                      with Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR               Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup
                                              tolerance for ‘‘vegetables, root, except                67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply                   5B ............................................         9.0
                                                                                                      to this action. In addition, this action              Potato, chips ...............................            0.60
                                              sugar beet, subgroup 1B.’’ And lastly,                                                                        Potato, granules/flakes ...............                  0.80
                                              the tolerance expression is changed as                  does not impose any enforceable duty or               Tomato, paste .............................               1.0
                                              requested by the petitioner.                            contain any unfunded mandate as                       Vegetables, cucurbits, group 9 ...                       0.50
                                                                                                      described under Title II of the Unfunded              Vegetables, fruiting, group 8–10                         0.50
                                              VI. Statutory and Executive Order                       Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C.                  Vegetables, leafy, except Bras-
                                              Reviews                                                 1501 et seq.).                                          sica, group 4 ...........................               2.0
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                                                This action establishes tolerances                       This action does not involve any                   Vegetables, leaves of root and
                                              under FFDCA section 408(d) in                           technical standards that would require                  tuber, group 2, except sugar
                                              response to a petition submitted to the                 Agency consideration of voluntary                       beet .........................................           30
                                              Agency. The Office of Management and                    consensus standards pursuant to section               Vegetables, root, except sugar
                                              Budget (OMB) has exempted these types                   12(d) of the National Technology                        beet, subgroup 1B ..................                    3.0
                                                                                                                                                            Vegetables, tuberous and corm,
                                              of actions from review under Executive                  Transfer and Advancement Act                            subgroup 1C ...........................                0.50
                                              Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory                      (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).


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                                              34902             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                (b) Section 18 emergency exemptions.                  holidays. The telephone number for the                and hearing requests are provided in 40
                                              [Reserved]                                              Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,                CFR 178.25(b).
                                                (c) Tolerances with regional                          and the telephone number for the OPP                    In addition to filing an objection or
                                              registrations. [Reserved]                               Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review               hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
                                                (d) Indirect or inadvertant residues.                 the visitor instructions and additional               as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
                                              [Reserved]                                              information about the docket available                submit a copy of the filing (excluding
                                              [FR Doc. 2016–12722 Filed 5–31–16; 8:45 am]             at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.                        any Confidential Business Information
                                              BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.
                                                                                                      Joseph Nevola, Pesticide Re-Evaluation                Information not marked confidential
                                                                                                      Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide                 pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be
                                              ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                                                                      disclosed publicly by EPA without prior
                                              AGENCY                                                  Programs, Environmental Protection
                                                                                                      Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,                   notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
                                              40 CFR Part 180                                         Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone                  objection or hearing request, identified
                                                                                                      number: (703) 308–8037; email address:                by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
                                              [EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0212; FRL–9943–73]                     nevola.joseph@epa.gov.                                2015–0212, by one of the following
                                                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            methods:
                                              Aldicarb, Alternaria destruens,                                                                                 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                              Ampelomyces quisqualis, Azinphos-                       I. General Information                                www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
                                              methyl, Etridiazole, Fenarimol, et al.;                                                                       instructions for submitting comments.
                                              Tolerance and Tolerance Exemption                       A. Does this action apply to me?
                                                                                                                                                            Do not submit electronically any
                                              Actions                                                    You may be potentially affected by                 information you consider to be CBI or
                                              AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                       this action if you are an agricultural                other information whose disclosure is
                                              Agency (EPA).                                           producer, food manufacturer, or                       restricted by statute.
                                              ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                      pesticide manufacturer. The following                   • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
                                                                                                      list of North American Industrial                     Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
                                              SUMMARY:   EPA is revoking certain                      Classification System (NAICS) codes is                DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
                                              tolerances in follow-up to canceled                     not intended to be exhaustive, but rather             NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001.
                                              product registrations or uses for                       provides a guide to help readers                        • Hand Delivery: To make special
                                              acephate, aldicarb, azinphos-methyl,                    determine whether this document                       arrangements for hand delivery or
                                              etridiazole, fenarimol, imazamethabenz-                 applies to them. Potentially affected                 delivery of boxed information, please
                                              methyl, tepraloxydim, thiazopyr, and                    entities may include:                                 follow the instructions at http://
                                              tralkoxydim, and is revoking tolerance                     • Crop production (NAICS code 111).                www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
                                              exemptions for certain pesticide active                    • Animal production (NAICS code                    Additional instructions on commenting
                                              ingredients. However, EPA will not                      112).                                                 or visiting the docket, along with more
                                              revoke the thiacloprid tolerances at this                  • Food manufacturing (NAICS code                   information about dockets generally, is
                                              time that had been previously proposed                  311).                                                 available at http://www.epa.gov/
                                              for revocation. Also, EPA is making                        • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS                   dockets.
                                              minor revisions to the section heading                  code 32532).
                                              and introductory text for Pythium                                                                             II. Background
                                                                                                      B. How can I get electronic access to
                                              oligandrum DV 74. In addition, in                       other related information?                            A. What action is the Agency taking?
                                              accordance with current Agency
                                                                                                        You may access a frequently updated                    In the Federal Register of July 22,
                                              practice, EPA is making revisions to the
                                                                                                      electronic version of 40 CFR part 180                 2015 (80 FR 43373) (FRL–9929–12),
                                              tolerance expression for
                                                                                                      through the Government Printing                       EPA issued a proposed rule to revoke
                                              imazamethabenz-methyl, and removing
                                                                                                      Office’s e-CFR site at http://                        certain tolerances for acephate, aldicarb,
                                              expired tolerances and tolerance
                                                                                                      www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-                            azinphos-methyl, etridiazole, fenarimol,
                                              exemptions for certain pesticide active
                                                                                                      idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/                  imazamethabenz-methyl, tepraloxydim,
                                              ingredients.
                                                                                                      40tab_02.tpl.                                         thiacloprid, thiazopyr, and tralkoxydim,
                                              DATES: This regulation is effective                                                                           and tolerance exemptions for certain
                                              November 28, 2016. Objections and                       C. How can I file an objection or hearing             pesticide active ingredients, in follow-
                                              requests for hearings must be received                  request?                                              up to canceled product registrations or
                                              on or before August 1, 2016, and must                      Under the Federal Food, Drug, and                  uses. Also, EPA proposed to make
                                              be filed in accordance with the                         Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) section 408(g),                  minor revisions to the section heading
                                              instructions provided in 40 CFR part                    21 U.S.C. 346a(g), any person may file                and introductory text for Pythium
                                              178 (see also Unit I.C. of the                          an objection to any aspect of this                    oligandrum DV 74. In addition, in
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).                             regulation and may also request a                     accordance with current Agency
                                              ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,                  hearing on those objections. You must                 practice, EPA proposed to make minor
                                              identified by docket identification (ID)                file your objection or request a hearing              revisions to the tolerance expression for
                                              number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0212, is                         on this regulation in accordance with                 imazamethabenz-methyl, and remove
                                              available at http://www.regulations.gov                 the instructions provided in 40 CFR part              expired tolerances and tolerance
                                              or at the Office of Pesticide Programs                  178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,                 exemptions for certain pesticide active
                                              Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)                   you must identify docket ID number                    ingredients. The proposal provided a
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                              in the Environmental Protection Agency                  EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0212 in the subject                   60-day comment period.
                                              Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William                    line on the first page of your                           Since the proposed rule of July 22,
                                              Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301                 submission. All objections and requests               2015, amendments for the last two
                                              Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC                   for a hearing must be in writing, and                 acephate labels with succulent bean use
                                              20460–0001. The Public Reading Room                     must be received by the Hearing Clerk                 (revising succulent bean to a non-food
                                              is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,                    on or before August 1, 2016. Addresses                use) were approved by EPA, as
                                              Monday through Friday, excluding legal                  for mail and hand delivery of objections              anticipated and discussed in the


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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:27:37
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:27:37
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 June 1, 2016. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before August 1, 2016, 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 Citation81 FR 34896 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Agricultural Commodities; Pesticides and Pests and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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