81_FR_72204 81 FR 72002 - Penflufen; Pesticide Tolerances

81 FR 72002 - Penflufen; Pesticide Tolerances

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 202 (October 19, 2016)

Page Range72002-72007
FR Document2016-25293

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of penflufen in or on vegetable, bulb, group 3-07; beet, sugar, roots; and beet, sugar, tops. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested the tolerance associated with pesticide petition number (PP#) 5E8382, and Bayer CropScience requested the tolerances associated with PP# 5F8379, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72002-72007]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25293]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0559; FRL-9952-22]


Penflufen; Pesticide Tolerances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
penflufen in or on vegetable, bulb, group 3-07; beet, sugar, roots; and 
beet, sugar, tops. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) 
requested the tolerance associated with pesticide petition number (PP#) 
5E8382, and Bayer CropScience requested the tolerances associated with 
PP# 5F8379, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is effective October 19, 2016. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before December 19, 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-2015-0559, 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: Michael Goodis, 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-2015-0559 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing, and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
December 19, 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-2015-0559, 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# 
5E8382) by Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4), 500 College 
Road East, Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition requested that 40 CFR 
180.664 be amended by establishing tolerances for residues of the 
fungicide penflufen, (1H-Pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-[2-(1,3-
dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-), in or on onion, bulb, 3-
07A at 0.01 parts per million (ppm); and onion, green, 3-07B at 0.015 
ppm. That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by 
Bayer CropScience, the registrant, which is available in the docket 
EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0559-0002 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    In the Federal Register of July 20, 2016 (81 FR 47150) (FRL-9948-
45), EPA issued a document pursuant to

[[Page 72003]]

FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of 
a pesticide petition (PP# 5F8379) by Bayer CropScience, 2 T.W. 
Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The petition 
requested that 40 CFR 180.664 be amended by establishing tolerances for 
residues of the fungicide penflufen, (1H-Pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-[2-
(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-), in or on beet, 
sugar, roots at 0.01 ppm and beet, sugar, tops at 0.01 ppm. That 
document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by Bayer 
CropScience, the registrant, which is available in the docket EPA-HQ-
OPP-2015-0559-0006 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Five comments were received in response to the notices of filing. 
EPA's responses to these comments are discussed in Unit IV.C.
    Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA has 
revised the petitioned-for tolerances for subgroups 3-07A and 3-07B 
since the Agency has determined that a crop group tolerance for 
vegetable, bulb, group 3-07 is more appropriate. The reason 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 penflufen including exposure 
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's 
assessment of exposures and risks associated with penflufen 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 liver and thyroid are target organs for penflufen. No evidence 
of quantitative or qualitative susceptibility was seen in developmental 
toxicity studies (rats and rabbits). Developmental toxicity was not 
observed in the rat or rabbit studies, although the studies did not 
test up to the limit dose. However, new studies are not expected to 
identify developmental endpoints with points of departure (PODs) lower 
than those determined in the current studies. In the reproductive 
study, decreased pup weight, delayed vaginal patency, and decreased 
brain, spleen, and thymus weights were seen in the presence of limited 
maternal effects (body weight changes), suggesting qualitative 
sensitivity. However, concern for the sensitivity is low since the 
effects are well characterized, and there is a clear NOAEL for the 
effects seen. Decreased motor and locomotor activity were observed in 
both sexes of rats following acute oral exposure and in female rats 
following subchronic oral exposure; neuropathological lesions were not 
observed in either study.
    Penflufen is classified as having ``suggestive evidence of 
carcinogenicity.'' A statistically significant increase in histiocytic 
sarcomas with a positive trend in male rats only (but in the absence of 
a dose response and lack of pre-neoplastic lesions) was seen. A 
marginal increase in brain astrocytomas was also observed in males at 
the high dose; however, this effect was not dose-related, did not reach 
statistical significance, and there was no overall trend. In addition, 
there were no pre-neoplastic lesions, such as glial proliferations, 
which are a good indicator of chemical tumor induction (i.e., there 
will be changes in the cells prior to transformation to a neoplasm). 
The ovarian adenomas observed at the high dose also showed no dose 
response, no pair-wise significance, no decrease in latency, and there 
were no pre-neoplastic lesions such as hyperplasia of the epithelial 
cells of the endometrium. Additionally, there was no evidence of 
carcinogenicity in male or female mice (at doses that were judged to be 
adequate to assess the carcinogenic potential), no concern for 
mutagenicity (in vivo or in vitro) for the parent molecule or the two 
metabolites, and there were no other lines of evidence of 
carcinogenicity (such as structure-activity relationship). Although 
these three tumors were considered treatment-related, they provided 
weak evidence of carcinogenicity due to the marginal nature of the 
tumor responses and the other factors mentioned above. Given the weak 
evidence indicating any potential for carcinogenicity, EPA has 
determined that quantification of risk using a non-linear approach 
(i.e., RfD) will adequately account for all chronic toxicity, including 
carcinogenicity, which could result from exposure to penflufen. The 
NOAEL (38 mg/kg/day) used for establishing the chronic RfD is 
approximately 10-fold lower than the dose (approximately 300 mg/kg/day) 
that induced a marginal tumor response. The EPA has determined that the 
chronic population adjusted dose is protective of all long-term 
effects, including potential carcinogenicity, based on limited evidence 
for carcinogenicity (histiocytic sarcomas) in male rats. There is no 
mutagenicity concern for penflufen. The risk assessments conducted for 
penflufen are based on the most sensitive endpoints in the toxicity 
database and are protective of all effects observed in the toxicology 
database.
    Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the 
adverse effects caused by penflufen as well as the NOAEL and the 
lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies 
can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in document ``Penflufen. 
Human Health Risk Assessment to Support New Uses on Bulb Vegetables 
(Crop Group 3-07) and Sugar Beets.'' in pages 8-12 in docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0559.

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

[[Page 72004]]

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 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 penflufen used for 
human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B. of the final rule 
published in the Federal Register of May 14, 2012 (77 FR 28278) (FRL-
9341-8).

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary 
exposure to penflufen, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-for 
tolerances as well as all existing penflufen tolerances in 40 CFR 
180.664. EPA assessed dietary exposures from penflufen 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 penflufen. In estimating acute 
dietary exposure, EPA used the Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model 
software with the Food Commodity Intake Database (DEEM-FCID) Version 
3.16. This software uses 2003-2008 food consumption data from the U.S. 
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, EPA used tolerance-level residues, default 
processing factors, and 100 percent crop treated (PCT) for all 
commodities.
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure 
assessment EPA used the DEEM-FCID, Version 3.16 software with 2003-2008 
food consumption data from the USDA's NHANES/WWEIA. As to residue 
levels in food, EPA used tolerance-level residues, default processing 
factors, and 100 PCT for all commodities.
    iii. Cancer. EPA determines whether quantitative cancer exposure 
and risk assessments are appropriate for a food-use pesticide based on 
the weight of the evidence from cancer studies and other relevant data. 
Cancer risk is quantified using a linear or nonlinear approach. If 
sufficient information on the carcinogenic mode of action is available, 
a threshold or nonlinear approach is used and a cancer RfD is 
calculated based on an earlier noncancer key event. If carcinogenic 
mode of action data are not available, or if the mode of action data 
determines a mutagenic mode of action, a default linear cancer slope 
factor approach is utilized. Based on the data summarized in Unit 
III.A., EPA has determined that quantification of risk using a non-
linear approach (i.e., cRfD) will adequately account for all chronic 
toxicity, including carcinogenicity, which could result from exposure 
to penflufen. Cancer risk was assessed using the same exposure 
estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii., chronic exposure.
    iv. Anticipated residue and percent crop treated (PCT) information. 
EPA did not use anticipated residue or PCT information in the dietary 
assessment for penflufen. Tolerance level residues and 100 PCT were 
assumed for all food commodities.
    2. Dietary exposure from drinking water.
    In drinking water, the residue of concern is penflufen parent and 
its degradates, penflufen-hydroxybutyl (Pen-3HB) and penflufen-
pyrazolyl-AAP (AAP). The Agency used screening level water exposure 
models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk assessment for 
penflufen in drinking water. These simulation models take into account 
data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport characteristics of 
penflufen. 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.
    Based on the Surface Water Concentration Calculator (SWCC) and 
Pesticide Root Zone Model Ground Water (PRZM GW) models, the estimated 
drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of penflufen for acute exposures 
are estimated to be 5.09 parts per billion (ppb) for surface water and 
123 ppb for ground water. The EDWCs of penflufen for chronic exposures 
for non-cancer assessments are estimated to be 3.95 ppb for surface 
water and 84.8 ppb for ground water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly 
entered into the dietary exposure model. For acute dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration value of 123 ppb was used to assess 
the contribution to drinking water. For chronic dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration of value 84.8 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). Penflufen is not 
registered for any specific use patterns that would result in 
residential exposure.
    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 penflufen to share a common mechanism of toxicity 
with any other substances, and penflufen does not appear to produce a 
toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this 
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that penflufen 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

[[Page 72005]]

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. In the rat and rabbit developmental 
toxicity studies, maternal findings were limited to decreased body 
weight gain at the highest doses tested (HDT). No adverse effects were 
observed in rat or rabbit fetuses. In the rat multi-generation 
reproduction study, a slight decrease in litter size, delayed sexual 
maturation, decreased body weight and weight gain, and decreased brain, 
spleen, and thymus weights were noted in the offspring animals in the 
presence of less pronounced maternal toxicity (decreased body weight 
and weight gain, alteration in food consumption, decreased thymus 
weight, and decreased spleen weights) suggesting qualitative 
susceptibility.
    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 penflufen is complete.
    ii. There is no concern for neurotoxicity and no need for a 
developmental neurotoxicity study or additional UFs to account for 
neurotoxicity. Although clinical signs were observed in acute and 
subchronic neurotoxicity studies with penflufen, there is a clear NOAEL 
for the effects seen and the endpoints and PODs selected for risk 
assessment are protective. The NOAELs used for risk assessment are 2x 
lower than where clinical signs were observed.
    iii. Although there is some evidence of qualitative sensitivity of 
the young in the reproduction study, the effects are well 
characterized, and there is a clear NOAEL for effects seen. Also, the 
current risk assessments are based on the most sensitive endpoints 
derived from studies with NOAELs 5x lower than the doses at which 
offspring effects were observed in the reproductive toxicity study. 
Thus, the PODs selected for risk assessment are protective of potential 
offspring effects.
    iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure 
databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed based 
on 100 PCT and tolerance-level residues. EPA made conservative 
(protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water modeling used 
to assess exposure to penflufen in drinking water. These assessments 
will not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by penflufen.

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 penflufen will occupy 4.2% of the aPAD for all infants (<1 year 
old), the population group receiving the greatest exposure.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to 
penflufen from food and water will utilize 1.2% of the cPAD for all 
infants (<2 year old) the population group receiving the greatest 
exposure. There are no residential uses for penflufen.
    3. Short- and intermediate-term risk. Short- and intermediate-term 
adverse effects were not identified; however, penflufen is not 
registered for any use patterns that would result in short- or 
intermediate-term residential exposures. Short- and intermediate-term 
risks are assessed based on short- and intermediate-term residential 
exposures plus chronic dietary exposure, respectively. Because there 
are no short- and intermediate-term residential exposures, 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 short-term risk), no further assessment of short- or 
intermediate-term risks are necessary, and EPA relies on the chronic 
dietary risk assessment for evaluating short- and intermediate-term 
risks for penflufen.
    4. 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 penflufen. As the chronic dietary 
endpoint and dose are protective of potential cancer effects, penflufen 
is not expected to pose an aggregate cancer risk.
    5. 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 penflufen residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (high performance liquid 
chromatography and triple stage quadrupole 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 a MRL for penflufen.

C. Response to Comments

    One comment was received in response to the Notice of Filing for 
PP# 5E8382. The commenter was opposing the use and sale of penflufen in 
the United States. The Agency understands the commenter's concerns and 
recognizes that some individuals believe that pesticides should be 
banned on agricultural crops. However, the existing legal framework 
provided by Section 408 of 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

[[Page 72006]]

that statute. EPA has found that there is a reasonable certainty of no 
harm to humans after considering the toxicological studies and the 
exposure levels of humans to penflufen.
    Three comments were received in response to the Notice of Filing 
for PP# 5F8379. One comment was in support of the Proposed Rule, while 
two comments were opposing any tolerance level above 0.00 ppm for any 
pesticides used in the U.S. The Agency understands the commenter's 
concerns and recognizes that some individuals believe that pesticides 
should be banned on agricultural crops. However, the existing legal 
framework provided by section 408 of 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. In 
addition, both commenters indicated that IR-4 and Rutgers University 
are profiteering. The IR-4 program was created by Congress in 1963 in 
order to assist minor crop growers in the process of obtaining 
pesticide registrations. IR-4 National Coordinating Headquarters is 
located at Rutgers University in New Jersey and receives the majority 
(90%) of its funding from the USDA. It is the only publicly funded 
program that conducts research and submits petitions for tolerances. 
IR-4 operates in collaboration with USDA, the Land Grant University 
System, the agrochemical industry, commodity associations, and EPA. IR-
4 identifies needs, prioritizes accordingly, and conducts research. The 
majority (over 80%) of IR-4's research is conducted on reduced-risk 
chemicals. Under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), IR-
4 works in cooperation with the registrant to request an exemption for 
the registration services. The exemption may be granted if the 
application is solely associated by simultaneous submission with a 
tolerance petition in connection with IR-4 and if it is in the public 
interest. This fee exemption serves as an incentive to pursue 
registration of minor uses supported by the IR-4 program. In addition 
to the work done in pesticide registration, IR-4 develops risk 
mitigation measures for existing registered products. Therefore, IR-4 
and Rutgers University are not profiteering from registering 
pesticides.
    A comment was submitted by the Environmental Health Program of the 
Center for Biological Diversity and was primarily concerned about 
environmental risks and 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 penflufen 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

    Based on review of the data supporting the petitions, EPA has 
revised the petitioned-for tolerance on onion, green, subgroup 3-07B. 
Both representative commodities for crop group 3-07 were submitted for 
the new uses, which included different tolerances proposed for crop 
subgroup 3-07A and 3-07B. Although the petitioner requested separate 
tolerances (based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD) calculation procedure), EPA has decided to establish 
a tolerance for crop group 3-07 at the level of qualification (LOQ) of 
the enforcement method (0.01 ppm), because maximum residues from crop 
subgroup 3-07A and subgroup 3-07B representative commodities were 
within a five-fold difference of each other, and because with residues 
in the field trials all less than the LOQ, the OECD calculation 
procedure stipulates that the LOQ is the appropriate tolerance level. 
Therefore, a single tolerance on the crop group vegetable, bulb, group 
3-07 is appropriate.

V. Conclusion

    Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of penflufen, in 
or on vegetable, bulb, group 3-07 at 0.01 ppm; beet, sugar, roots at 
0.01 ppm; and beet, sugar, tops at 0.01 ppm.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

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

VII. Congressional Review Act

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

[[Page 72007]]

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

    Dated: September 30, 2016.
Michael Goodis,
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. In Sec.  180.664, alphabetically add entries for ``beet, sugar, 
roots'', ``beet, sugar, tops'', and ``vegetable, bulb, group 3-07'' to 
the table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  180.664  Penflufen; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Parts per
                        Commodity                             million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Beet, sugar, roots......................................        0.01 ppm
Beet, sugar, tops.......................................        0.01 ppm
 
                                * * * * *
Vegetable, bulb, group 3-07.............................        0.01 ppm
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-25293 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                72002            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                Subpart F—California                                     Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William                  objections and requests for a hearing
                                                                                                         Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301               must be in writing, and must be
                                                ■ 2. Section 52.220 is amended by                        Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC                 received by the Hearing Clerk on or
                                                adding paragraph (c)(481) to read as                     20460–0001. The Public Reading Room                   before December 19, 2016. Addresses for
                                                follows:                                                 is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,                  mail and hand delivery of objections
                                                                                                         Monday through Friday, excluding legal                and hearing requests are provided in 40
                                                § 52.220   Identification of plan—in part.
                                                                                                         holidays. The telephone number for the                CFR 178.25(b).
                                                *      *    *     *    *                                 Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,                  In addition to filing an objection or
                                                  (c) * * *                                              and the telephone number for the OPP                  hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
                                                  (481) The following revision was                                                                             as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
                                                                                                         Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
                                                submitted on July 17, 2014 by the                                                                              submit a copy of the filing (excluding
                                                                                                         the visitor instructions and additional
                                                Governor’s designee.                                                                                           any Confidential Business Information
                                                                                                         information about the docket available
                                                  (i) [Reserved]                                                                                               (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.
                                                  (ii) Additional materials.                             at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
                                                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Information not marked confidential
                                                  (A) California Air Resources Board.
                                                                                                         Michael Goodis, Registration Division                 pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be
                                                  (1) California Air Resources Board,
                                                                                                         (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,                disclosed publicly by EPA without prior
                                                Staff Report, ‘‘8-Hour Ozone State
                                                                                                         Environmental Protection Agency, 1200                 notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
                                                Implementation Plan Emission
                                                                                                         Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,                    objection or hearing request, identified
                                                Inventory Submittal,’’ release date: May
                                                                                                         DC 20460–0001; main telephone                         by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
                                                23, 2014, excluding the tables of 2012
                                                                                                         number: (703) 305–7090; email address:                2015–0559, by one of the following
                                                average summer daily emissions (tons
                                                                                                         RDFRNotices@epa.gov.                                  methods:
                                                per day) other than the tables for Chico                                                                         • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                (Butte County), San Luis Obispo County                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
                                                (Eastern San Luis Obispo), Calaveras                                                                           instructions for submitting comments.
                                                                                                         I. General Information
                                                County, and San Francisco Bay Area.                                                                            Do not submit electronically any
                                                *      *    *     *    *                                 A. Does this action apply to me?                      information you consider to be CBI or
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–25164 Filed 10–18–16; 8:45 am]                You may be potentially affected by                 other information whose disclosure is
                                                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                   this action if you are an agricultural                restricted by statute.
                                                                                                         producer, food manufacturer, or                         • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
                                                                                                         pesticide manufacturer. The following                 Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
                                                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                 list of North American Industrial                     DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
                                                AGENCY                                                   Classification System (NAICS) codes is                NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001.
                                                                                                         not intended to be exhaustive, but rather               • Hand Delivery: To make special
                                                40 CFR Part 180                                                                                                arrangements for hand delivery or
                                                                                                         provides a guide to help readers
                                                [EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0559; FRL–9952–22]                      determine whether this document                       delivery of boxed information, please
                                                                                                         applies to them. Potentially affected                 follow the instructions at http://
                                                Penflufen; Pesticide Tolerances                          entities may include:                                 www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
                                                AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                           • Crop production (NAICS code 111).                Additional instructions on commenting
                                                Agency (EPA).                                               • Animal production (NAICS code                    or visiting the docket, along with more
                                                                                                         112).                                                 information about dockets generally, is
                                                ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                            • Food manufacturing (NAICS code                   available at http://www.epa.gov/
                                                SUMMARY:   This regulation establishes                   311).                                                 dockets.
                                                tolerances for residues of penflufen in or                  • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
                                                                                                                                                               II. Summary of Petitioned-for Tolerance
                                                on vegetable, bulb, group 3–07; beet,                    code 32532).
                                                sugar, roots; and beet, sugar, tops.                                                                              In the Federal Register of October 21,
                                                                                                         B. How can I get electronic access to                 2015 (80 FR 63731) (FRL–9935–29),
                                                Interregional Research Project Number 4                  other related information?
                                                (IR–4) requested the tolerance                                                                                 EPA issued a document pursuant to
                                                associated with pesticide petition                          You may access a frequently updated                FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.
                                                number (PP#) 5E8382, and Bayer                           electronic version of EPA’s tolerance                 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
                                                CropScience requested the tolerances                     regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through                pesticide petition (PP# 5E8382) by
                                                associated with PP# 5F8379, under the                    the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR                Interregional Research Project Number 4
                                                Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act                     site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-             (IR–4), 500 College Road East,
                                                (FFDCA).                                                 idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/                  Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition
                                                                                                         40tab_02.tpl.                                         requested that 40 CFR 180.664 be
                                                DATES:  This regulation is effective                                                                           amended by establishing tolerances for
                                                October 19, 2016. Objections and                         C. How can I file an objection or hearing             residues of the fungicide penflufen, (1H-
                                                requests for hearings must be received                   request?                                              Pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-[2-(1,3-
                                                on or before December 19, 2016, and                        Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21                      dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-
                                                must be filed in accordance with the                     U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an                   dimethyl-), in or on onion, bulb, 3–07A
                                                instructions provided in 40 CFR part                     objection to any aspect of this regulation            at 0.01 parts per million (ppm); and
                                                178 (see also Unit I.C. of the                           and may also request a hearing on those               onion, green, 3–07B at 0.015 ppm. That
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).                              objections. You must file your objection              document referenced a summary of the
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,                   or request a hearing on this regulation               petition prepared by Bayer CropScience,
                                                identified by docket identification (ID)                 in accordance with the instructions                   the registrant, which is available in the
                                                number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0559, is                          provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure                docket EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0559–0002
                                                available at http://www.regulations.gov                  proper receipt by EPA, you must                       at http://www.regulations.gov.
                                                or at the Office of Pesticide Programs                   identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–                        In the Federal Register of July 20,
                                                Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)                    OPP–2015–0559 in the subject line on                  2016 (81 FR 47150) (FRL–9948–45),
                                                in the Environmental Protection Agency                   the first page of your submission. All                EPA issued a document pursuant to


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       72003

                                                FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C.                       including exposure resulting from the                 endometrium. Additionally, there was
                                                346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a                   tolerances established by this action.                no evidence of carcinogenicity in male
                                                pesticide petition (PP# 5F8379) by                       EPA’s assessment of exposures and risks               or female mice (at doses that were
                                                Bayer CropScience, 2 T.W. Alexander                      associated with penflufen follows.                    judged to be adequate to assess the
                                                Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC                                                                              carcinogenic potential), no concern for
                                                                                                         A. Toxicological Profile
                                                27709. The petition requested that 40                                                                          mutagenicity (in vivo or in vitro) for the
                                                CFR 180.664 be amended by                                   EPA has evaluated the available                    parent molecule or the two metabolites,
                                                establishing tolerances for residues of                  toxicity data and considered its validity,            and there were no other lines of
                                                the fungicide penflufen, (1H-Pyrazole-4-                 completeness, and reliability as well as              evidence of carcinogenicity (such as
                                                carboxamide, N-[2-(1,3-                                  the relationship of the results of the                structure-activity relationship).
                                                dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-                      studies to human risk. EPA has also                   Although these three tumors were
                                                dimethyl-), in or on beet, sugar, roots at               considered available information                      considered treatment-related, they
                                                0.01 ppm and beet, sugar, tops at 0.01                   concerning the variability of the                     provided weak evidence of
                                                ppm. That document referenced a                          sensitivities of major identifiable                   carcinogenicity due to the marginal
                                                summary of the petition prepared by                      subgroups of consumers, including                     nature of the tumor responses and the
                                                Bayer CropScience, the registrant,                       infants and children.                                 other factors mentioned above. Given
                                                which is available in the docket EPA–                       The liver and thyroid are target organs            the weak evidence indicating any
                                                HQ–OPP–2015–0559–0006 at http://                         for penflufen. No evidence of                         potential for carcinogenicity, EPA has
                                                www.regulations.gov.                                     quantitative or qualitative susceptibility            determined that quantification of risk
                                                  Five comments were received in                         was seen in developmental toxicity                    using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD)
                                                response to the notices of filing. EPA’s                 studies (rats and rabbits).                           will adequately account for all chronic
                                                responses to these comments are                          Developmental toxicity was not                        toxicity, including carcinogenicity,
                                                discussed in Unit IV.C.                                  observed in the rat or rabbit studies,                which could result from exposure to
                                                  Based upon review of the data                          although the studies did not test up to               penflufen. The NOAEL (38 mg/kg/day)
                                                supporting the petition, EPA has revised                 the limit dose. However, new studies                  used for establishing the chronic RfD is
                                                the petitioned-for tolerances for                        are not expected to identify                          approximately 10-fold lower than the
                                                subgroups 3–07A and 3–07B since the                      developmental endpoints with points of                dose (approximately 300 mg/kg/day)
                                                Agency has determined that a crop                        departure (PODs) lower than those                     that induced a marginal tumor response.
                                                group tolerance for vegetable, bulb,                     determined in the current studies. In the             The EPA has determined that the
                                                group 3–07 is more appropriate. The                      reproductive study, decreased pup                     chronic population adjusted dose is
                                                reason for these changes are explained                   weight, delayed vaginal patency, and                  protective of all long-term effects,
                                                in Unit IV.D.                                            decreased brain, spleen, and thymus                   including potential carcinogenicity,
                                                                                                         weights were seen in the presence of                  based on limited evidence for
                                                III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and                       limited maternal effects (body weight
                                                Determination of Safety                                                                                        carcinogenicity (histiocytic sarcomas) in
                                                                                                         changes), suggesting qualitative                      male rats. There is no mutagenicity
                                                   Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA                      sensitivity. However, concern for the                 concern for penflufen. The risk
                                                allows EPA to establish a tolerance (the                 sensitivity is low since the effects are              assessments conducted for penflufen are
                                                legal limit for a pesticide chemical                     well characterized, and there is a clear              based on the most sensitive endpoints
                                                residue in or on a food) only if EPA                     NOAEL for the effects seen. Decreased                 in the toxicity database and are
                                                determines that the tolerance is ‘‘safe.’’               motor and locomotor activity were                     protective of all effects observed in the
                                                Section 408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA                        observed in both sexes of rats following              toxicology database.
                                                defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a               acute oral exposure and in female rats                   Specific information on the studies
                                                reasonable certainty that no harm will                   following subchronic oral exposure;                   received and the nature of the adverse
                                                result from aggregate exposure to the                    neuropathological lesions were not                    effects caused by penflufen as well as
                                                pesticide chemical residue, including                    observed in either study.                             the NOAEL and the lowest-observed-
                                                all anticipated dietary exposures and all                   Penflufen is classified as having                  adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the
                                                other exposures for which there is                       ‘‘suggestive evidence of                              toxicity studies can be found at http://
                                                reliable information.’’ This includes                    carcinogenicity.’’ A statistically                    www.regulations.gov in document
                                                exposure through drinking water and in                   significant increase in histiocytic                   ‘‘Penflufen. Human Health Risk
                                                residential settings, but does not include               sarcomas with a positive trend in male                Assessment to Support New Uses on
                                                occupational exposure. Section                           rats only (but in the absence of a dose               Bulb Vegetables (Crop Group 3–07) and
                                                408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to                    response and lack of pre-neoplastic                   Sugar Beets.’’ in pages 8–12 in docket ID
                                                give special consideration to exposure                   lesions) was seen. A marginal increase                number EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0559.
                                                of infants and children to the pesticide                 in brain astrocytomas was also observed
                                                chemical residue in establishing a                       in males at the high dose; however, this              B. Toxicological Points of Departure/
                                                tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a                effect was not dose-related, did not                  Levels of Concern
                                                reasonable certainty that no harm will                   reach statistical significance, and there                Once a pesticide’s toxicological
                                                result to infants and children from                      was no overall trend. In addition, there              profile is determined, EPA identifies
                                                aggregate exposure to the pesticide                      were no pre-neoplastic lesions, such as               toxicological points of departure (POD)
                                                chemical residue. . . .’’                                glial proliferations, which are a good                and levels of concern to use in
                                                   Consistent with FFDCA section                         indicator of chemical tumor induction                 evaluating the risk posed by human
                                                408(b)(2)(D), and the factors specified in               (i.e., there will be changes in the cells             exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has                      prior to transformation to a neoplasm).               that have a threshold below which there
                                                reviewed the available scientific data                   The ovarian adenomas observed at the                  is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
                                                and other relevant information in                        high dose also showed no dose                         POD is used as the basis for derivation
                                                support of this action. EPA has                          response, no pair-wise significance, no               of reference values for risk assessment.
                                                sufficient data to assess the hazards of                 decrease in latency, and there were no                PODs are developed based on a careful
                                                and to make a determination on                           pre-neoplastic lesions such as                        analysis of the doses in each
                                                aggregate exposure for penflufen                         hyperplasia of the epithelial cells of the            toxicological study to determine the


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                                                72004            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                dose at which no adverse effects are                     residues, default processing factors, and                Modeled estimates of drinking water
                                                observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest                      100 PCT for all commodities.                          concentrations were directly entered
                                                dose at which adverse effects of concern                    iii. Cancer. EPA determines whether                into the dietary exposure model. For
                                                are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/                 quantitative cancer exposure and risk                 acute dietary risk assessment, the water
                                                safety factors are used in conjunction                   assessments are appropriate for a food-               concentration value of 123 ppb was
                                                with the POD to calculate a safe                         use pesticide based on the weight of the              used to assess the contribution to
                                                exposure level—generally referred to as                  evidence from cancer studies and other                drinking water. For chronic dietary risk
                                                a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a                    relevant data. Cancer risk is quantified              assessment, the water concentration of
                                                reference dose (RfD)—and a safe margin                   using a linear or nonlinear approach. If              value 84.8 ppb was used to assess the
                                                of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold                     sufficient information on the                         contribution to drinking water.
                                                risks, the Agency assumes that any                       carcinogenic mode of action is available,                3. From non-dietary exposure. The
                                                amount of exposure will lead to some                     a threshold or nonlinear approach is                  term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in
                                                degree of risk. Thus, the Agency                         used and a cancer RfD is calculated                   this document to refer to non-
                                                estimates risk in terms of the probability               based on an earlier noncancer key event.              occupational, non-dietary exposure
                                                of an occurrence of the adverse effect                   If carcinogenic mode of action data are               (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control,
                                                expected in a lifetime. For more                         not available, or if the mode of action               indoor pest control, termiticides, and
                                                information on the general principles                    data determines a mutagenic mode of                   flea and tick control on pets). Penflufen
                                                EPA uses in risk characterization and a                  action, a default linear cancer slope                 is not registered for any specific use
                                                complete description of the risk                         factor approach is utilized. Based on the             patterns that would result in residential
                                                assessment process, see http://                          data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has               exposure.
                                                www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-                      determined that quantification of risk                   4. Cumulative effects from substances
                                                assessing-pesticide-risks/assessing-                     using a non-linear approach (i.e., cRfD)              with a common mechanism of toxicity.
                                                human-health-risk-pesticides.                            will adequately account for all chronic               Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA
                                                   A summary of the toxicological                        toxicity, including carcinogenicity,                  requires that, when considering whether
                                                endpoints for penflufen used for human                   which could result from exposure to                   to establish, modify, or revoke a
                                                risk assessment is discussed in Unit                     penflufen. Cancer risk was assessed                   tolerance, the Agency consider
                                                III.B. of the final rule published in the                using the same exposure estimates as                  ‘‘available information’’ concerning the
                                                Federal Register of May 14, 2012 (77 FR                  discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii., chronic                cumulative effects of a particular
                                                28278) (FRL–9341–8).                                     exposure.                                             pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other
                                                C. Exposure Assessment                                      iv. Anticipated residue and percent                substances that have a common
                                                   1. Dietary exposure from food and                     crop treated (PCT) information. EPA did               mechanism of toxicity.’’
                                                feed uses. In evaluating dietary                         not use anticipated residue or PCT                       EPA has not found penflufen to share
                                                exposure to penflufen, EPA considered                    information in the dietary assessment                 a common mechanism of toxicity with
                                                exposure under the petitioned-for                        for penflufen. Tolerance level residues               any other substances, and penflufen
                                                tolerances as well as all existing                       and 100 PCT were assumed for all food                 does not appear to produce a toxic
                                                penflufen tolerances in 40 CFR 180.664.                  commodities.                                          metabolite produced by other
                                                EPA assessed dietary exposures from                         2. Dietary exposure from drinking                  substances. For the purposes of this
                                                penflufen in food as follows:                            water.                                                tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
                                                   i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute                    In drinking water, the residue of                  assumed that penflufen does not have a
                                                dietary exposure and risk assessments                    concern is penflufen parent and its                   common mechanism of toxicity with
                                                are performed for a food-use pesticide,                  degradates, penflufen-hydroxybutyl                    other substances. For information
                                                if a toxicological study has indicated the               (Pen-3HB) and penflufen-pyrazolyl-AAP                 regarding EPA’s efforts to determine
                                                possibility of an effect of concern                      (AAP). The Agency used screening level                which chemicals have a common
                                                occurring as a result of a 1-day or single               water exposure models in the dietary                  mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate
                                                exposure.                                                exposure analysis and risk assessment                 the cumulative effects of such
                                                   Such effects were identified for                      for penflufen in drinking water. These                chemicals, see EPA’s Web site at http://
                                                penflufen. In estimating acute dietary                   simulation models take into account                   www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-
                                                exposure, EPA used the Dietary                           data on the physical, chemical, and fate/             assessing-pesticide-risks/cumulative-
                                                Exposure Evaluation Model software                       transport characteristics of penflufen.               assessment-risk-pesticides.
                                                with the Food Commodity Intake                           Further information regarding EPA
                                                                                                         drinking water models used in pesticide               D. Safety Factor for Infants and
                                                Database (DEEM–FCID) Version 3.16.                                                                             Children
                                                This software uses 2003–2008 food                        exposure assessment can be found at
                                                consumption data from the U.S.                           http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-science-                  1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of
                                                Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)                     and-assessing-pesticide-risks/about-                  FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply
                                                National Health and Nutrition                            water-exposure-models-used-pesticide.                 an additional tenfold (10X) margin of
                                                Examination Survey, What We Eat in                          Based on the Surface Water                         safety for infants and children in the
                                                America, (NHANES/WWEIA). As to                           Concentration Calculator (SWCC) and                   case of threshold effects to account for
                                                residue levels in food, EPA used                         Pesticide Root Zone Model Ground                      prenatal and postnatal toxicity and the
                                                tolerance-level residues, default                        Water (PRZM GW) models, the                           completeness of the database on toxicity
                                                processing factors, and 100 percent crop                 estimated drinking water concentrations               and exposure unless EPA determines
                                                treated (PCT) for all commodities.                       (EDWCs) of penflufen for acute                        based on reliable data that a different
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                   ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting                   exposures are estimated to be 5.09 parts              margin of safety will be safe for infants
                                                the chronic dietary exposure assessment                  per billion (ppb) for surface water and               and children. This additional margin of
                                                EPA used the DEEM–FCID, Version 3.16                     123 ppb for ground water. The EDWCs                   safety is commonly referred to as the
                                                software with 2003–2008 food                             of penflufen for chronic exposures for                FQPA Safety Factor (SF). In applying
                                                consumption data from the USDA’s                         non-cancer assessments are estimated to               this provision, EPA either retains the
                                                NHANES/WWEIA. As to residue levels                       be 3.95 ppb for surface water and 84.8                default value of 10X, or uses a different
                                                in food, EPA used tolerance-level                        ppb for ground water.                                 additional safety factor when reliable


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                        72005

                                                data available to EPA support the choice                 not underestimate the exposure and                       5. Determination of safety. Based on
                                                of a different factor.                                   risks posed by penflufen.                             these risk assessments, EPA concludes
                                                   2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.                                                                      that there is a reasonable certainty that
                                                                                                         E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of
                                                No evidence of quantitative or                                                                                 no harm will result to the general
                                                                                                         Safety
                                                qualitative susceptibility was seen in                                                                         population, or to infants and children
                                                developmental toxicity studies in rats                      EPA determines whether acute and                   from aggregate exposure to penflufen
                                                and rabbits. In the rat and rabbit                       chronic dietary pesticide exposures are               residues.
                                                developmental toxicity studies,                          safe by comparing aggregate exposure
                                                                                                         estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and                 IV. Other Considerations
                                                maternal findings were limited to
                                                decreased body weight gain at the                        chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer                 A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
                                                highest doses tested (HDT). No adverse                   risks, EPA calculates the lifetime
                                                                                                         probability of acquiring cancer given the                Adequate enforcement methodology
                                                effects were observed in rat or rabbit                                                                         (high performance liquid
                                                fetuses. In the rat multi-generation                     estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,
                                                                                                         intermediate-, and chronic-term risks                 chromatography and triple stage
                                                reproduction study, a slight decrease in                                                                       quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC/
                                                litter size, delayed sexual maturation,                  are evaluated by comparing the
                                                                                                         estimated aggregate food, water, and                  MS/MS)) is available to enforce the
                                                decreased body weight and weight gain,                                                                         tolerance expression.
                                                and decreased brain, spleen, and                         residential exposure to the appropriate
                                                                                                         PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE                      The method may be requested from:
                                                thymus weights were noted in the                                                                               Chief, Analytical Chemistry Branch,
                                                offspring animals in the presence of less                exists.
                                                                                                            1. Acute risk. Using the exposure                  Environmental Science Center, 701
                                                pronounced maternal toxicity                                                                                   Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 20755–5350;
                                                                                                         assumptions discussed in this unit for
                                                (decreased body weight and weight                                                                              telephone number: (410) 305–2905;
                                                                                                         acute exposure, the acute dietary
                                                gain, alteration in food consumption,                                                                          email address: residuemethods@
                                                                                                         exposure from food and water to
                                                decreased thymus weight, and                                                                                   epa.gov.
                                                                                                         penflufen will occupy 4.2% of the aPAD
                                                decreased spleen weights) suggesting
                                                                                                         for all infants (<1 year old), the                    B. International Residue Limits
                                                qualitative susceptibility.
                                                                                                         population group receiving the greatest
                                                   3. Conclusion. EPA has determined                     exposure.                                                In making its tolerance decisions, EPA
                                                that reliable data show the safety of                       2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure                seeks to harmonize U.S. tolerances with
                                                infants and children would be                            assumptions described in this unit for                international standards whenever
                                                adequately protected if the FQPA SF                      chronic exposure, EPA has concluded                   possible, consistent with U.S. food
                                                were reduced to 1X. That decision is                     that chronic exposure to penflufen from               safety standards and agricultural
                                                based on the following findings:                         food and water will utilize 1.2% of the               practices. EPA considers the
                                                   i. The toxicity database for penflufen                cPAD for all infants (<2 year old) the                international maximum residue limits
                                                is complete.                                             population group receiving the greatest               (MRLs) established by the Codex
                                                   ii. There is no concern for                           exposure. There are no residential uses               Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as
                                                neurotoxicity and no need for a                          for penflufen.                                        required by FFDCA section 408(b)(4).
                                                developmental neurotoxicity study or                        3. Short- and intermediate-term risk.              The Codex Alimentarius is a joint
                                                additional UFs to account for                            Short- and intermediate-term adverse                  United Nations Food and Agriculture
                                                neurotoxicity. Although clinical signs                   effects were not identified; however,                 Organization/World Health
                                                were observed in acute and subchronic                    penflufen is not registered for any use               Organization food standards program,
                                                neurotoxicity studies with penflufen,                    patterns that would result in short- or               and it is recognized as an international
                                                there is a clear NOAEL for the effects                   intermediate-term residential exposures.              food safety standards-setting
                                                seen and the endpoints and PODs                          Short- and intermediate-term risks are                organization in trade agreements to
                                                selected for risk assessment are                         assessed based on short- and                          which the United States is a party. EPA
                                                protective. The NOAELs used for risk                     intermediate-term residential exposures               may establish a tolerance that is
                                                assessment are 2x lower than where                       plus chronic dietary exposure,                        different from a Codex MRL; however,
                                                clinical signs were observed.                            respectively. Because there are no short-             FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that
                                                   iii. Although there is some evidence                  and intermediate-term residential                     EPA explain the reasons for departing
                                                of qualitative sensitivity of the young in               exposures, and chronic dietary exposure               from the Codex level.
                                                the reproduction study, the effects are                  has already been assessed under the                      The Codex has not established a MRL
                                                well characterized, and there is a clear                 appropriately protective cPAD (which is               for penflufen.
                                                NOAEL for effects seen. Also, the                        at least as protective as the POD used to
                                                current risk assessments are based on                                                                          C. Response to Comments
                                                                                                         assess short-term risk), no further
                                                the most sensitive endpoints derived                     assessment of short- or intermediate-                   One comment was received in
                                                from studies with NOAELs 5x lower                        term risks are necessary, and EPA relies              response to the Notice of Filing for PP#
                                                than the doses at which offspring effects                on the chronic dietary risk assessment                5E8382. The commenter was opposing
                                                were observed in the reproductive                        for evaluating short- and intermediate-               the use and sale of penflufen in the
                                                toxicity study. Thus, the PODs selected                  term risks for penflufen.                             United States. The Agency understands
                                                for risk assessment are protective of                       4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S.                  the commenter’s concerns and
                                                potential offspring effects.                             population. EPA assessed cancer risk                  recognizes that some individuals believe
                                                   iv. There are no residual uncertainties               using a non-linear approach (i.e., RfD)               that pesticides should be banned on
                                                identified in the exposure databases.                    since it adequately accounts for all                  agricultural crops. However, the existing
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                                                The dietary food exposure assessments                    chronic toxicity, including                           legal framework provided by Section
                                                were performed based on 100 PCT and                      carcinogenicity, that could result from               408 of the Federal Food, Drug and
                                                tolerance-level residues. EPA made                       exposure to penflufen. As the chronic                 Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) states that
                                                conservative (protective) assumptions in                 dietary endpoint and dose are protective              tolerances may be set when persons
                                                the ground and surface water modeling                    of potential cancer effects, penflufen is             seeking such tolerances or exemptions
                                                used to assess exposure to penflufen in                  not expected to pose an aggregate cancer              have demonstrated that the pesticide
                                                drinking water. These assessments will                   risk.                                                 meets the safety standard imposed by


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                                                72006            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                that statute. EPA has found that there is                obligations under the Endangered                      contain any information collections
                                                a reasonable certainty of no harm to                     Species Act. This comment is not                      subject to OMB approval under the
                                                humans after considering the                             relevant to the Agency’s evaluation of                Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
                                                toxicological studies and the exposure                   safety of the penflufen tolerances;                   U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), nor does it require
                                                levels of humans to penflufen.                           section 408 of the FFDCA focuses on                   any special considerations under
                                                   Three comments were received in                       potential harms to human health and                   Executive Order 12898, entitled
                                                response to the Notice of Filing for PP#                 does not permit consideration of effects              ‘‘Federal Actions to Address
                                                5F8379. One comment was in support of                    on the environment.                                   Environmental Justice in Minority
                                                the Proposed Rule, while two comments                                                                          Populations and Low-Income
                                                were opposing any tolerance level above                  D. Revisions to Petitioned-for
                                                                                                         Tolerances                                            Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16,
                                                0.00 ppm for any pesticides used in the                                                                        1994).
                                                U.S. The Agency understands the                             Based on review of the data                           Since tolerances and exemptions that
                                                commenter’s concerns and recognizes                      supporting the petitions, EPA has                     are established on the basis of a petition
                                                that some individuals believe that                       revised the petitioned-for tolerance on               under FFDCA section 408(d), such as
                                                pesticides should be banned on                           onion, green, subgroup 3–07B. Both                    the tolerance in this final rule, do not
                                                agricultural crops. However, the existing                representative commodities for crop                   require the issuance of a proposed rule,
                                                legal framework provided by section                      group 3–07 were submitted for the new                 the requirements of the Regulatory
                                                408 of the Federal Food, Drug and                        uses, which included different                        Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et
                                                Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) states that                         tolerances proposed for crop subgroup                 seq.), do not apply.
                                                tolerances may be set when persons                       3–07A and 3–07B. Although the
                                                                                                                                                                  This action directly regulates growers,
                                                seeking such tolerances or exemptions                    petitioner requested separate tolerances
                                                                                                                                                               food processors, food handlers, and food
                                                have demonstrated that the pesticide                     (based on the Organization for
                                                                                                                                                               retailers, not States or tribes, nor does
                                                meets the safety standard imposed by                     Economic Cooperation and
                                                                                                         Development (OECD) calculation                        this action alter the relationships or
                                                that statute. In addition, both
                                                                                                         procedure), EPA has decided to                        distribution of power and
                                                commenters indicated that IR–4 and
                                                                                                         establish a tolerance for crop group 3–               responsibilities established by Congress
                                                Rutgers University are profiteering. The
                                                                                                         07 at the level of qualification (LOQ) of             in the preemption provisions of FFDCA
                                                IR–4 program was created by Congress
                                                                                                         the enforcement method (0.01 ppm),                    section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency
                                                in 1963 in order to assist minor crop
                                                                                                         because maximum residues from crop                    has determined that this action will not
                                                growers in the process of obtaining
                                                                                                         subgroup 3–07A and subgroup 3–07B                     have a substantial direct effect on States
                                                pesticide registrations. IR–4 National
                                                                                                         representative commodities were within                or tribal governments, on the
                                                Coordinating Headquarters is located at
                                                                                                         a five-fold difference of each other, and             relationship between the national
                                                Rutgers University in New Jersey and
                                                                                                         because with residues in the field trials             government and the States or tribal
                                                receives the majority (90%) of its
                                                funding from the USDA. It is the only                    all less than the LOQ, the OECD                       governments, or on the distribution of
                                                publicly funded program that conducts                    calculation procedure stipulates that the             power and responsibilities among the
                                                research and submits petitions for                       LOQ is the appropriate tolerance level.               various levels of government or between
                                                tolerances. IR–4 operates in                             Therefore, a single tolerance on the crop             the Federal Government and Indian
                                                collaboration with USDA, the Land                        group vegetable, bulb, group 3–07 is                  tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined
                                                Grant University System, the                             appropriate.                                          that Executive Order 13132, entitled
                                                agrochemical industry, commodity                                                                               ‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                                                                         V. Conclusion                                         1999) and Executive Order 13175,
                                                associations, and EPA. IR–4 identifies
                                                needs, prioritizes accordingly, and                        Therefore, tolerances are established               entitled ‘‘Consultation and Coordination
                                                conducts research. The majority (over                    for residues of penflufen, in or on                   with Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
                                                80%) of IR–4’s research is conducted on                  vegetable, bulb, group 3–07 at 0.01 ppm;              67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply
                                                reduced-risk chemicals. Under the                        beet, sugar, roots at 0.01 ppm; and beet,             to this action. In addition, this action
                                                Pesticide Registration Improvement Act                   sugar, tops at 0.01 ppm.                              does not impose any enforceable duty or
                                                (PRIA), IR–4 works in cooperation with                                                                         contain any unfunded mandate as
                                                                                                         VI. Statutory and Executive Order                     described under Title II of the Unfunded
                                                the registrant to request an exemption                   Reviews
                                                for the registration services. The                                                                             Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C.
                                                exemption may be granted if the                            This action establishes tolerances                  1501 et seq.).
                                                application is solely associated by                      under FFDCA section 408(d) in                            This action does not involve any
                                                simultaneous submission with a                           response to a petition submitted to the               technical standards that would require
                                                tolerance petition in connection with                    Agency. The Office of Management and                  Agency consideration of voluntary
                                                IR–4 and if it is in the public interest.                Budget (OMB) has exempted these types                 consensus standards pursuant to section
                                                This fee exemption serves as an                          of actions from review under Executive                12(d) of the National Technology
                                                incentive to pursue registration of minor                Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory                    Transfer and Advancement Act
                                                uses supported by the IR–4 program. In                   Planning and Review’’ (58 FR 51735,                   (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
                                                addition to the work done in pesticide                   October 4, 1993). Because this action
                                                                                                                                                               VII. Congressional Review Act
                                                registration, IR–4 develops risk                         has been exempted from review under
                                                mitigation measures for existing                         Executive Order 12866, this action is                   Pursuant to the Congressional Review
                                                registered products. Therefore, IR–4 and                 not subject to Executive Order 13211,                 Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will
                                                Rutgers University are not profiteering                  entitled ‘‘Actions Concerning                         submit a report containing this rule and
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                                                from registering pesticides.                             Regulations That Significantly Affect                 other required information to the U.S.
                                                   A comment was submitted by the                        Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66             Senate, the U.S. House of
                                                Environmental Health Program of the                      FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive                  Representatives, and the Comptroller
                                                Center for Biological Diversity and was                  Order 13045, entitled ‘‘Protection of                 General of the United States prior to
                                                primarily concerned about                                Children from Environmental Health                    publication of the rule in the Federal
                                                environmental risks and Agency                           Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,                Register. This action is not a ‘‘major
                                                compliance with any relevant                             April 23, 1997). This action does not                 rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       72007

                                                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180                           NMFS is adjusting the
                                                                                                         SUMMARY:                                                 • The amount of remaining shark
                                                   Environmental protection,                      commercial    aggregated large coastal                       quota in the Atlantic region based on
                                                Administrative practice and procedure,            shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark                             dealer reports;
                                                                                                  management group retention limit for                            Based on dealer reports, 108.6 mt dw
                                                Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
                                                                                                                                                               or 64 percent of the 168.9 mt dw shark
                                                and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping directed shark limited access permit
                                                                                                  holders in the Atlantic region from 45                       quota for the aggregated LCS
                                                requirements.
                                                                                                  LCS other than sandbar sharks per                            management group has already been
                                                   Dated: September 30, 2016.                     vessel per trip to 25 LCS other than                         harvested in the Atlantic region. This
                                                Michael Goodis,                                   sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This                     means that approximately 36 percent of
                                                Acting Director, Registration Division, Office    action is based on consideration of the                      the quota remains. Unless action is
                                                of Pesticide Programs.                            regulatory determination criteria                            taken to slow harvest, fishermen in the
                                                                                                  regarding inseason adjustments. The                          Atlantic region may not have an
                                                   Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
                                                                                                  retention limit will remain at 25 LCS                        opportunity to fish in the region for the
                                                amended as follows:
                                                                                                  other than sandbar sharks per vessel per                     remainder of the year.
                                                PART 180—[AMENDED]                                trip in the Atlantic region through the                         • The catch rates of the aggregated
                                                                                                  rest of the 2016 fishing season or until                     LCS management group in the Atlantic
                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180          NMFS announces via a notice in the                           region based on dealer reports;
                                                continues to read as follows:                     Federal Register a fishery closure is                           Based on dealer reports, the current
                                                                                                  warranted. This retention limit                              catch rates are too high to maintain an
                                                   Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.                                                                  open season for the rest of the year.
                                                                                                  adjustment will affect directed shark
                                                ■ 2. In § 180.664, alphabetically add
                                                                                                  limited access permit holders fishing for                    While fishermen are landing sharks
                                                entries for ‘‘beet, sugar, roots’’, ‘‘beet,       LCS in the Atlantic region.                                  within the per-trip retention limit of 45
                                                sugar, tops’’, and ‘‘vegetable, bulb,                                                                          LCS other than sandbar per trip per day,
                                                                                                  DATES: This retention limit adjustment
                                                group 3–07’’ to the table in paragraph (a)                                                                     they are making multiple trips a day
                                                                                                  is effective at 11:30 p.m. local time
                                                to read as follows:                                                                                            that result in high numbers of
                                                                                                  October 19, 2016, through the end of the
                                                                                                                                                               aggregated LCS being caught rapidly
                                                § 180.664 Penflufen; tolerances for               2016 fishing season on December 31,
                                                                                                                                                               throughout the fishery. This high daily
                                                residues.                                         2016, or until NMFS announces via a
                                                                                                                                                               average catch rate means that aggregated
                                                   (a) * * *                                      notice in the Federal Register a fishery
                                                                                                                                                               LCS are being harvested too quickly to
                                                                                                  closure, if warranted.
                                                                                                                                                               provide equitable fishing opportunities
                                                          Commodity                    Parts per  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guý                        throughout the season. If the per trip
                                                                                        million   DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 301–                          limit is left unchanged, aggregated LCS
                                                                                                  427–8503; fax 301–713–1917.                                  would likely be harvested at such a high
                                                    *         *          *           *          * SUPPLEMENTARY     INFORMATION: Atlantic                      rate that the fishery would close in mid-
                                                Beet, sugar, roots .................     0.01 ppm shark fisheries are managed under the                        October.
                                                Beet, sugar, tops ..................     0.01 ppm 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory                              • Estimated date of the aggregated
                                                                                                  Species (HMS) Fishery Management                             LCS management group closure based
                                                    *         *          *           *          * Plan (FMP), its amendments, and                              on when the landings are projected to
                                                Vegetable, bulb, group 3–07              0.01 ppm implementing regulations (50 CFR part                        reach 80 percent of the quota;
                                                                                                  635) issued under authority of the                              Once the landings reach 80 percent of
                                                    *         *          *           *          *
                                                                                                  Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                                     the quota, NMFS would close the
                                                                                                  Conservation and Management Act (16                          aggregated LCS management group as
                                                *      *     *      *        *
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–25293 Filed 10–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                  U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).                                        well as any other management group
                                                                                                     Under § 635.24(a)(8), NMFS may                            with ‘‘linked quotas’’ such as the
                                                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                  adjust the commercial retention limit in                     Atlantic hammerhead shark
                                                                                                  the shark fisheries during the fishing                       management group. Current catch rates
                                                                                                  season. Before making any adjustment,                        would likely result in landings reaching
                                                DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                            NMFS must consider specified                                 this limit by mid-October. A closure
                                                                                                  regulatory criteria and other relevant                       would preclude fishing opportunities in
                                                National Oceanic and Atmospheric                  factors. See § 635.24(a)(8)(i)–(vi). After                   the Atlantic region for the remainder of
                                                Administration                                    considering these criteria as discussed                      the year. Reducing the trip limit is
                                                                                                  below, NMFS concluded that reducing                          expected to reduce the catch rates and
                                                50 CFR Part 635                                   the retention limit of the Atlantic                          allow for the fishery to remain open for
                                                [Docket No. 150413357–5999–02]                    aggregated LCS and hammerhead                                the remainder of the year.
                                                                                                  management groups for directed shark                            • Effects of the adjustment on
                                                RIN 0648–XE914                                    limited access permit holders will slow                      accomplishing the objectives of the 2006
                                                                                                  the fishery catch rates to allow the                         Consolidated HMS FMP and its
                                                Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;                fishery throughout the Atlantic region to                    amendments;
                                                Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal remain open for the rest of the year.                                         Reducing the retention limit for the
                                                Shark and Hammerhead Shark                        Since landings are projected to reach 80                     aggregated LCS and hammerhead
                                                Management Group Retention Limit                  percent before the end of the 2016                           management group from 45 to 25 LCS
                                                Adjustment                                        fishing season, NMFS is reducing the                         per trip would allow for fishing
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                                                AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries                 commercial Atlantic aggregated LCS and                       opportunities later in the year consistent
                                                Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and              hammerhead shark retention limit from                        with the FMP’s objectives to provide
                                                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                45 to 25 LCS other than sandbar per                          equitable fishing opportunities
                                                Commerce.                                         vessel per trip.                                             throughout the fishing season and to
                                                ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
                                                                                                     NMFS considered the inseason                              limit bycatch and discards.
                                                retention limit adjustment.                       retention  limit adjustment criteria listed                     • Variations in seasonal distribution
                                                                                                  in § 635.24(a)(8), which says that:                          or migratory patterns of aggregated LCS


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Document Created: 2016-10-19 02:12:07
Document Modified: 2016-10-19 02:12:07
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis regulation is effective October 19, 2016. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before December 19, 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).
ContactMichael Goodis, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone
FR Citation81 FR 72002 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Agricultural Commodities; Pesticides and Pests and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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