83_FR_53199 83 FR 52996 - Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance

83 FR 52996 - Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)

Page Range52996-53002
FR Document2018-22862

This regulation amends the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) (CAS Reg. No. 97-99-4) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations to add one herbicide application prior to the preboot stage on buckwheat, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and wild rice; extend use on canola to the early bolting stage; extend use on soybeans prior to the bloom growth stage; and allow use in herbicides with two applications to field corn and popcorn prior to 36 inches tall (V8 stage). Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC, submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an amendment to an existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52996-53002]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22862]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0098; FRL-9984-70]


Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol; Exemption From the Requirement of a 
Tolerance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation amends the exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) (CAS Reg. 
No. 97-99-4) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations 
to add one herbicide application prior to the preboot stage on 
buckwheat, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and wild rice; extend 
use on canola to the early bolting stage; extend use on soybeans prior 
to the bloom growth stage; and allow use in herbicides with two 
applications to field corn and popcorn prior to 36 inches tall (V8 
stage). Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC, submitted a petition 
to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 
requesting an amendment to an existing exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a 
maximum permissible level for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.

DATES: This regulation is effective October 19, 2018. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before December 18, 2018, 
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-2013-0098, 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 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

[[Page 52997]]

proper receipt by EPA, you must identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2013-0098 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 18, 2018. 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-2013-0098, 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. Petition for Exemption

    In the Federal Register of February 27, 2013 (78 FR 13295) (FRL-
9380-2), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408, 21 U.S.C. 
346a, announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 2E8080) by 
Toxcel, LLC, 7140 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainsville, VA 20156 on 
behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC, 3324 Chelsea Avenue, Memphis, TN 38108. The 
petition requested amendment of the exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance in 40 CFR 180.1263 for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
(THFA) (CAS Reg. No. 97-99-4) when used as an inert ingredient 
(solvent/cosolvent) to include allowance of one herbicide application 
prior to the preboot stage to all small cereal grains; extended use on 
canola to the early bolting stage; and extended use on soybeans up to 
the bloom growth stage. That document referenced a summary of the 
petition prepared by Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC, the 
petitioner, which is available in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in response to the 
notice of filing.
    Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC, submitted a revised 
pesticide petition to supersede the previously submitted petition. EPA 
issued a document in the Federal Register of April 6, 2015 (80 FR 
18327) (FRL-9924-00), pursuant to FFDCA section 408, 21 U.S.C. 346a, 
announcing the filing of this revised petition. The revised petition 
requested that 40 CFR 180.1263 be amended to allow one herbicide 
application prior to the preboot stage for wheat, buckwheat, barley, 
oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice, and wild rice; extend the use on 
canola to the early bolting stage; extend the use on soybeans up to the 
bloom growth stage; and allow two herbicide applications to field corn 
and popcorn up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage). That document referenced a 
summary of the petition prepared by Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A 
Kem, LLC, the petitioner, which is available in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in response to the 
notice of filing.

III. Inert Ingredient Definition

    Inert ingredients are all ingredients that are not active 
ingredients as defined in 40 CFR 153.125 and include, but are not 
limited to, the following types of ingredients (except when they have a 
pesticidal efficacy of their own): Solvents such as alcohols and 
hydrocarbons; surfactants such as polyoxyethylene polymers and fatty 
acids; carriers such as clay and diatomaceous earth; thickeners such as 
carrageenan and modified cellulose; wetting, spreading, and dispersing 
agents; propellants in aerosol dispensers; microencapsulating agents; 
and emulsifiers. The term ``inert'' is not intended to imply 
nontoxicity; the ingredient may or may not be chemically active. 
Generally, EPA has exempted inert ingredients from the requirement of a 
tolerance based on the low toxicity of the individual inert 
ingredients.

IV. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish an 
exemption from the requirement for a tolerance (the legal limit for a 
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that 
the exemption is ``safe.'' Section 408(c)(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. In making this safety finding, EPA is required 
to take into account the considerations set forth in section 
408(b)(2)(C) and (D). 21 U.S.C. 346a(c)(2)(B). 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. . . .''
    EPA establishes exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance only 
in those cases where it can be clearly demonstrated that the risks from 
aggregate exposure to pesticide chemical residues under reasonably 
foreseeable circumstances will pose no appreciable risks to human 
health. In order to determine the risks from aggregate exposure to 
pesticide inert ingredients, the Agency considers the toxicity of the 
inert in conjunction with possible exposure to residues of the inert 
ingredient through food, drinking water, and through other exposures 
that occur as a result of pesticide use in residential settings. If EPA 
is able to determine that a finite tolerance is not necessary to ensure 
that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from 
aggregate exposure to the inert ingredient, an exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance may be established.
    Consistent with FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(A), and the factors 
specified in FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), 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 tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
including exposure resulting from the exemption established by this 
action. EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated with 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol follows.

A. Toxicological Profile

    EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered their 
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of 
the results of

[[Page 52998]]

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. 
Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the 
adverse effects caused by tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol as well as the no-
observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-
effect-level (LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in the document ``Hazard Assessment for the 
Tolerance Reassessment of Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA)(CAS Reg. 
No. 97-99-4)'' at pp 8-12 in docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0098. A 
summary of the toxicity of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol as given in that 
document follows.
    Acute toxicity information is available for the oral route with an 
LD50 for the rat of 1.6-3.2 g/kg. Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
was not irritating to the skin of mice but was irritating to the eyes 
of rabbits. Acute dermal and inhalation toxicity, as well as dermal 
sensitization information, currently are not available. However, there 
are reports that suggest tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol may be moderately 
irritating via the dermal and inhalation routes of exposure to humans.
    Although data on chronic effects is unavailable, subchronic studies 
indicate that systemic effects from repeated dermal and oral exposure 
to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol include decreased body weight and body 
weight gain. Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol also exhibits adverse 
reproductive and developmental effects, and potential effects on the 
endocrine system.
    Males are not only quantitatively more sensitive to the subchronic 
effects of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol than females, but the male 
reproductive system appears to be a target for tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol. Consistent decreases in male reproductive organ weights 
(testicular, epididymal, and seminal vesicle) were observed in rats in 
the 90-day dietary (LOAEL 339 mg/kg/day), dermal (LOAEL 300 mg/kg/day), 
and inhalation (LOAEL <0.21 mg/L/day) toxicity studies. In addition, a 
90-day oral (dietary) study in dogs revealed decreased testes weights 
of males in all treated groups (1,000, 3,000, 6,000 ppm, equivalent to 
approximately 25, 75, and 150 mg/kg/day), compared to controls, with 
severe testicular atrophy in all males at the highest dose (6,000 ppm 
or 150 mg/kg/day). Decreased spermatogenic activity was noted in males 
of the 3,000 ppm group (75 mg/kg/day) and was interpreted as a 
prodromal sign of atrophy.
    A 28-day repeated oral (gavage) study in rats revealed significant 
decreases in absolute testes and epididymal weights after 28 days at a 
dose level of 600 mg/kg/day which continued through the 14-day recovery 
period. Necrosis of the seminiferous tubular epithelium of the testes 
was also observed in males of the 150 and 600 mg/kg/day group at 28 
days. Necrosis of the testes was also observed in males of the 600 mg/
kg/day group at the end of the 14-day recovery period.
    In the reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test in rats, 
no reproductive parameters were affected except slightly increased 
gestation length at the high dose of 150 mg/kg/day.
    The endocrine system may also be a target for tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol. Alterations in pituitary, thymus, adrenal, and thyroid weights 
have been reported after subchronic exposure (28 days) to 600 mg/kg/day 
in male rats and pituitary weights at 150 mg/kg/day in female rats. 
Decreased absolute and relative adrenal weights were observed in males 
and females receiving 5,000 ppm (equivalent to 339 mg/kg/day males and 
401 mg/kg/day females).
    In one developmental toxicity study in rats a quantitative 
susceptibility based on decreased fetal body weights and a qualitative 
susceptibility based on increased incidence of filamentous tail was 
observed. However, in a more recent reproduction/developmental toxicity 
screening test (OECD 421 guideline study) in rats, an increased 
incidence of filamentous tail was not evident nor was there any other 
evidence of increased qualitative susceptibility. Based on the overall 
weight of evidence for developmental toxicity, it is determined that 
there is increased quantitative susceptibility but not increased 
qualitative susceptibility.
    A neurotoxicity study is not available for tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol, however no neurotoxic effects were observed in the available 
subchronic oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity studies.
    Mutagenicity studies indicate tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not 
mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium or E. coli with or without 
metabolic activation. Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol was also negative for 
causing structural chromosomal aberrations or polyploidy with or 
without metabolic activation in cultured Chinese hamster lung cells.
    There are currently no chronic toxicity or cancer studies available 
for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The Agency used a qualitative structure 
activity relationship (SAR) database, DEREK Nexus, to determine if 
there were structural alerts for potential carcinogenicity for 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. No structural alerts for carcinogenicity 
were identified for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. In the absence of any 
structural alerts and lack of mutagenicity concerns, tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol is not expected to be carcinogenic.

B. Toxicological Points of Departure/Levels of Concern

    Once a pesticide's toxicological profile is determined, EPA 
identifies toxicological points of departure (POD) and levels of 
concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the 
pesticide. For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no 
appreciable risk, the toxicological POD is used as the basis for 
derivation of reference values for risk assessment. PODs are developed 
based on a careful analysis of the doses in each toxicological study to 
determine the dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL) 
and the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified 
(the LOAEL). Uncertainty/safety factors are used in conjunction with 
the POD to calculate a safe exposure level--generally referred to as a 
population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a reference dose (RfD)--and a safe 
margin of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes 
that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk. Thus, the 
Agency estimates risk in terms of the probability of an occurrence of 
the adverse effect expected in a lifetime. For more information on the 
general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete 
description of the risk assessment process, see http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm. A discussion of the toxicological 
endpoints for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol used for human risk assessment 
can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in the document ``Hazard 
Assessment for the Tolerance Reassessment of Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
(THFA) (CAS Reg. No. 97-99-4) at pp. 6-8 in docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OPP-2013-0098''. A summary of the toxicological dose and endpoints for 
THFA follows:

[[Page 52999]]



   Table 1--Summary of Toxicological Doses and Endpoints for Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol for Use in Human Risk
                                                   Assessment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Point of departure
        Exposure/scenario            and  uncertainty/    RfD, PAD, LOC for     Study and toxicological effects
                                      safety factors       risk assessment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acute dietary (Females 13-50       NOAEL = [50] mg/kg/   Acute RfD = [0.5]    [Developmental rat].
 years of age).                     day.                  mg/kg/day.          LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on
                                   UFA = [10] x........  aPAD = [0.05] mg/kg/  [decreased fetal body weight and
                                   UFH = [10]x.........   day.                 increased incidence of
                                   FQPA SF = [10]x.....                        filamentous tail, complete
                                                                               resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/
                                                                               kg/day].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acute dietary (General population  None................  NA.................  No acute effects relevant to the
 including infants and children).                                              general population were observed
                                                                               in the available studies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chronic dietary (All populations)  NOAEL= [50] mg/kg/    Chronic RfD = [0.5]  [Developmental rat].
                                    day.                  mg/kg/day.          LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on
                                   UFA = [10]x.........  cPAD = [0.05] mg/kg/  [decreased fetal body weight and
                                   UFH = [10]x.........   day.                 increased incidence of
                                   FQPA SF = [10]x.....                        filamentous tail, complete
                                                                               resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/
                                                                               kg/day].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental oral short-term (1 to   NOAEL= [50] mg/kg/    LOC for MOE =        [Developmental, rat].
 30 days).                          day.                  [1,000].            LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on
                                   UFA = [10]x.........                        [decreased fetal body weight and
                                   UFH = [10]x.........                        increased incidence of
                                   FQPA SF = [10]x.....                        filamentous tail, complete
                                                                               resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/
                                                                               kg/day].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dermal short-term (1 to 30 days).  Dermal study NOAEL =  LOC for MOE =        [90-day dermal, rat].
                                    [100] mg/kg/day.      [1,000].            LOAEL = [300 and 1,000] mg/kg/day
                                   UFA = [10]x.........                        M/F respectively based on
                                   UFH = [10]x.........                        [decreased sperm count and sperm
                                   FQPA SF = [10]x.....                        production rate in males, lower
                                                                               body weight/gains in females].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inhalation short-term (1 to 30     Inhalation study      LOC for MOE =        [90-day inhalation, rat].
 days).                             LOAEL=0.21 mg/l.      [1000].             LOAEL = [0.21] mg/L (50 ppm;
                                   UFA = [10]x.........                        approx. 60 mg/kg/day) based on.
                                   UFH = [10]x.........                        Decreased body weight of males at
                                   FQPA SF = [10]x.....                        150 and 500 ppm. Multiple effects
                                                                               on sperm number, motility, and
                                                                               morphology at interim and
                                                                               terminal necropsy of males at
                                                                               both 150 and 500 ppm].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhalation)  Classification: No structural alerts for carcinogenicity were identified for
                                    tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol using a qualitative structure activity
                                    relationship (SAR) database, DEREK Nexus. In the absence of any structural
                                    alerts and lack of mutagenicity concerns, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not
                                    expected to be carcinogenic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. LOC = level
  of concern. mg/kg/day = milligram/kilogram/day. MOE = margin of exposure. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-
  level. PAD = population adjusted dose (a = acute, c = chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty factor.
  UFA = extrapolation from animal to human (interspecies). UFDB = to account for the absence of data or other
  data deficiency. UFH = potential variation in sensitivity among members of the human population
  (intraspecies). UFL = use of a LOAEL to extrapolate a NOAEL. UFS = use of a short-term study for long-term
  risk assessment.

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary 
exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, EPA considered exposure under 
the proposed exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. EPA 
assessed dietary exposures from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in food as 
follows:
    2. Acute and chronic exposure. In conducting the acute and chronic 
dietary exposure assessments using the Dietary Exposure Evaluation 
Model DEEM-FCID\TM\, Version 3.18, EPA used food consumption 
information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) 2003-
2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, What We Eat in 
America (NHANES/WWEIA).
    In the absence of specific residue data, EPA has developed an 
approach which uses surrogate information to derive upper-bound 
exposure estimates for the subject inert ingredient. Upper-bound 
exposure estimates are based on the highest tolerance for a given 
commodity from a list of high-use insecticides, herbicides and 
fungicides. A complete discussion of the general approach taken to 
assess inert ingredient risks in the absence of residue data is 
contained in the memorandum entitled ``Alkyl Amines Polyethoxylates 
(Cluster 4): Acute and Chronic Aggregate (Food and Drinking Water) 
Dietary Exposure and Risk Assessment for the Inerts'' (D361707, S. 
Piper 2/25/09) and can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in docket 
ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0738.
    In the case of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol residues resulting from 
foliar applications, EPA made specific adjustments to the dietary 
exposure assessments to account for the use limitations of 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol as well as some residue chemistry data 
(plant uptake data) submitted with the petition. The use of the dietary 
estimated exposure model (DEEM) for upper-bound dietary risk 
assessments as described above was modified to include only those 
commodities on which pesticide formulations containing 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol are being

[[Page 53000]]

used or are proposed to be used. Specifically, the dietary exposure 
assessment considered foliar uses of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol on 
wheat, buckwheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and wild 
rice, canola, cotton, field corn, and popcorn as contained in the 
existing tolerance exemption expression and that are the subject of the 
present petitions. A residue chemistry study (a radiolabeled plant 
uptake study with THFA in corn, tomato, and wheat) suggest that the 
highest reported detectable level of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
residues resulting from foliar application in these crops is 0.5 ppm 
and this value is used in the dietary exposure assessment for the 
commodities included in the tolerance exemption.
    For seed treatment use, it was conservatively assumed that all of 
the following commodities (which represent an agglomeration of all 
commodities for which seed treatment pesticide products are approved 
for use) could potentially be treated with a seed treatment pesticide 
containing tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol: barley, corn (field, pop, sweet 
and corn for seed production), legume vegetables (dried shelled peas 
and beans), brassica and bulb vegetables, alfalfa, cucurbits, rye, 
wheat, cotton, sugar beets, and sunflowers. For seed treatment use, in 
the absence of THFA-specific data, residue chemistry data for active 
ingredients with seed treatment uses were utilized. Residue levels for 
pesticide active ingredients used for seed treatment are all below the 
limit of detection, so a highly conservative value of 0.05 ppm is used 
in the dietary exposure assessment as a residue value for THFA for all 
seed treatment commodities based on application of Agency policies for 
assigning values to nondetected/nonquantified pesticide residues.
    3. Dietary exposure from drinking water. For the purpose of the 
screening level dietary risk assessment to support this request for an 
exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol a conservative drinking water concentration value of 100 ppb 
based on screening level modeling was used to assess the contribution 
to drinking water for the chronic dietary risk assessments for parent 
compound. These values were directly entered into the dietary exposure 
model.
    4. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is 
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary 
exposure (e.g., textiles (clothing and diapers), carpets, swimming 
pools, and hard surface disinfection on walls, floors, tables).
    Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is contained in a pesticide currently 
registered for uses that could result in residential exposures. The use 
pattern of the product includes application to dogs. EPA assessed this 
residential exposure using the Agency's Standard Operating Procedures 
for Residential Pesticide Exposure Assessment Residential Exposure 
(Residential SOP). Based on the Treated Pets section of the Residential 
SOP, the following assumptions are made: for residential handlers, 
exposure (dermal and inhalation) is expected to be short-term only. 
Residential post-application dermal exposure (short-term only) was 
assessed for adults and children. Residential post-application 
inhalation exposure is generally not assessed for pet treatment product 
uses as such exposure is typically considered to be negligible. 
Incidental oral post-application exposure was assessed for children 1 
to 2 years old. All post-application exposures are expected to be 
short-term in duration. Further information regarding EPA standard 
assumptions and generic inputs for residential exposures may be found 
at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/trac/science/trac6a05.pdf.
    5. 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 tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to share a common 
mechanism of toxicity with any other substances, and tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol does not appear to produce a toxic metabolite produced by other 
substances. For the purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA 
has assumed that tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 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 website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.

D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children

    1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA provides that EPA 
shall apply an additional tenfold (10X) margin of safety for infants 
and children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal 
and postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the database on toxicity 
and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a 
different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. This 
additional margin of safety is commonly referred to as the FQPA Safety 
Factor (SF). In applying this provision, EPA either retains the default 
value of 10X, or uses a different additional safety factor when 
reliable data available to EPA support the choice of a different 
factor.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. The data available for 
evaluation suggest there is evidence of increased quantitative 
susceptibility of the offspring after in utero exposure to 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. No reproductive parameters were affected 
except slightly increased gestation length at the high dose of 150 mg/
kg/day in the OECD 421 study in rats. There is also a concern for the 
effects of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol on the developing male 
reproductive system. Subchronic and reproductive toxicity studies 
consistently revealed decreased testicular epididymis and seminal 
vesicle weights as well as atrophy of the epididymis and seminal 
vesicles and abnormal morphology and motility of sperm. The level at 
which tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol may affect the reproductive system 
during development is currently not known.
    3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that based on evidence of 
quantitative and qualitative susceptibility the safety of infants and 
children would be adequately protected if the FQPA SF was retained at 
10x for all scenarios. That decision is based on the following 
findings:
    i. The toxicity database for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol consists of 
a 28-day and 90-day oral toxicity studies in rats, dogs, 90-day dermal 
toxicity study in rats, 90-day inhalation toxicity study in rats, 
several mutagenicity studies, developmental/reproductive toxicity 
screening study in rats, and a developmental toxicity study and 
reproductive toxicity study in rats.
    ii. Slight atrophy of thymus was seen in high dose animal groups in 
the 28-day oral toxicity study, which may be indicative of an immune 
response, however no guideline immunotoxicity study is available.
    iii. Evidence of increased quantitative susceptibility of offspring 
is seen in the developmental toxicity study.
    iv. Additionally, alterations in the male reproductive system from 
subchronic exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol does indicate

[[Page 53001]]

a concern for effects to the developing male reproductive system.
    v. The FQPA factor of 10X is considered adequate to account for 
potential immunotoxicity and uncertainty regarding the developing 
reproductive system in males because clear NOAELs are established in 
the available database.
    vi. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure 
databases. As described earlier, EPA used highly conservative 
assumptions for the dietary food exposure assessment. EPA made 
conservative (protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water 
modeling used to assess exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in 
drinking water. EPA used similarly conservative assumptions to assess 
residential exposures of children to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. These 
assessments will not underestimate the exposure and risks.

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, EPA has concluded that acute exposure to 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol from food and water will utilize 8.88% of 
the aPAD for females 13-49 years old.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol from food and water will utilize 8.5% of the 
cPAD for children 1-2 years old, the population group receiving the 
greatest exposure. Based on the explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding 
residential use patterns, chronic residential exposure to residues of 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not expected.
    3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into 
account short-term residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food 
and water (considered to be a background exposure level). 
Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is contained in a pesticide currently 
registered for uses that could result in short-term residential 
exposure, and the Agency has determined that it is appropriate to 
aggregate chronic exposure through food and water with short-term 
residential exposures to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.
    Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for short-
term exposures, EPA has concluded the combined chronic food, water, and 
short-term residential exposures result in aggregate MOEs of 13,100 for 
adults and 9,800 for children 1-2 years old. Because EPA's level of 
concern for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is a MOE of 1,000 or below, 
these MOEs are not of concern.
    4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure 
takes into account intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic 
exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure 
level).
    An intermediate-term adverse effect was identified; however, 
tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not contained in any pesticide products 
registered for any use patterns that would result in intermediate-term 
residential exposure. Intermediate-term risk is assessed based on 
intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic dietary exposure. 
Because there is no intermediate-term residential exposure and chronic 
dietary exposure has already been assessed under the appropriately 
protective cPAD (which is at least as protective as the POD used to 
assess intermediate-term risk), no further assessment of intermediate-
term risk is necessary, and EPA relies on the chronic dietary risk 
assessment for evaluating intermediate-term risk for tetrahydrofurfuryl 
alcohol.
    5. Cancer. Based on the lack of genotoxicity and a DEREK assessment 
of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol that revealed no structural alerts 
suggestive of carcinogenicity, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is therefore 
not expected to pose a cancer risk to humans.
    6. Determination of safety. Taking into consideration all available 
information on tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, EPA has determined that 
there is a reasonable certainty that no harm to any population subgroup 
will result from aggregate exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
resulting from the limited uses contained in 40 CFR 180.1263. 
Therefore, the amendment of the exemption from requirement of a 
tolerance at 40 CFR 180.1263 for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol 
when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations to include 
allowance of one herbicide application prior to the pre-boot stage to 
wheat, buckwheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and wild 
rice; extended use on canola to the early bolting stage; extended use 
on soybeans up to the bloom stage; and allowance of two applications to 
field corn and popcorn up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage) is safe under 
FFDCA section 408.

V. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    An analytical method is not required for enforcement purposes since 
the Agency is establishing an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance without any numerical limitation.

VI. Conclusion

    Therefore, the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance under 
40 CFR 180.1263 is amended to add exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (CAS Reg. No. 97-
99-4) when used as an inert ingredient (solvent) in herbicides applied 
to wheat, buckwheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and 
wild rice prior to the pre-boot stage; use on canola to the early 
bolting stage; use on soybeans up to the bloom stage; and two 
applications to field corn and popcorn up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage).

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This final rule establishes exemptions from the requirement of a 
tolerance 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 final rule has been exempted from review 
under Executive Order 12866, this final rule 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 final rule 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

[[Page 53002]]

the exemptions 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 final rule 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 final rule. In addition, 
this final rule does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any 
unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995 (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 of 1995 (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

VIII. Congressional Review Act

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

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

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

    Dated: October 9, 2018.
Michael Goodis,
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.  180.1263, revise paragraphs (d) and (e), and add paragraphs 
(f) and (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  180.1263   Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance.

* * * * *
    (d) For use in herbicides with one application to wheat, buckwheat, 
barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice, and wild rice prior to the 
pre-boot stage.
    (e) For use in herbicides with two applications to field corn and 
popcorn up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage).
    (f) For use in herbicides with two applications to canola prior to 
the early bolting stage.
    (g) For use in herbicides with two applications to soybeans prior 
to the bloom growth stage.

[FR Doc. 2018-22862 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
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                                           52996             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                           PART 180—[AMENDED]                                                                                Parts per       number EPA–HQ–OPP–2013–0098, is
                                                                                                               Commodity                      million        available at http://www.regulations.gov
                                           ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180                                                                          or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
                                           continues to read as follows:                                                                                     Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)
                                                                                                              *         *         *              *     *     in the Environmental Protection Agency
                                              Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
                                                                                                          Vegetable, Brassica, head and
                                           ■ 2. In § 180.589:                                                stem, group 5–16 ....................       6.0
                                                                                                                                                             Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
                                           ■ a. In the table to paragraph (a):                                                                               Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
                                           ■ i. Add in alphanumeric order entries                             *         *         *              *     *     Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
                                           for ‘‘Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4–                      Vegetable, cucurbit, group 9 ......            3.0 20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
                                           16B, except watercress’’; ‘‘Celtuce’’;                                                                            is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
                                           ‘‘Fennel, Florence’’; ‘‘Kohlrabi’’; ‘‘Leaf                         *         *         *              *     *     Monday through Friday, excluding legal
                                           petiole vegetable subgroup 22B’’; ‘‘Leafy Vegetable, root, except sugar                                           holidays. The telephone number for the
                                                                                                             beet, subgroup 1B ..................        2.0 Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
                                           greens subgroup 4–16A’’; ‘‘Pea and
                                           bean, dried shelled, except soybean,                                                                              and the telephone number for the OPP
                                                                                                              *         *         *              *     *
                                           subgroup 6C’’; ‘‘Pea and bean, succulent                                                                          Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
                                           shelled, subgroup 6B’’; ‘‘Vegetable,                                                                              the visitor instructions and additional
                                                                                                          *      *     *       *     *
                                           Brassica, head and stem, group 5–16’’;                         [FR Doc. 2018–22854 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                             information about the docket available
                                           ‘‘Vegetable, cucurbit, group 9’’; and                                                                             at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                           ‘‘Vegetable, root, except sugar beet,                                                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                           subgroup 1B’’; and                                                                                                Michael Goodis, Registration Division
                                           ■ ii. Remove the entries ‘‘Brassica, head                      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                           (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
                                           and stem, subgroup 5A’’; ‘‘Brassica,                           AGENCY                                             Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
                                           leafy greens, subgroup 5B’’;                                                                                      Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
                                           ‘‘Cucumber’’; ‘‘Leaf petioles, subgroup                        40 CFR Part 180                                    20460–0001; main telephone number:
                                           4B’’; ‘‘Leafy greens, subgroup 4A, except                                                                         (703) 305–7090; email address:
                                           head lettuce and leaf lettuce’’; ‘‘Lettuce, [EPA–HQ–OPP–2013–0098; FRL–9984–70]                                   RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
                                           head’’; ‘‘Lettuce, leaf’’; ‘‘Pea and bean,                     Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol; Exemption SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                           dried shelled, except soybean, subgroup From the Requirement of a Tolerance
                                           6C, except cowpea, field pea, and grain                                                                           I. General Information
                                           lupin’’; ‘‘Pea and bean, succulent                             AGENCY: Environmental Protection
                                                                                                                                                             A. Does this action apply to me?
                                           shelled, subgroup 6B, except cowpea’’;                         Agency (EPA).
                                           ‘‘Turnip, greens’’; ‘‘Vegetable, cucurbit,                     ACTION: Final rule.                                   You may be potentially affected by
                                           group 9, except cucumber’’; ‘‘Vegetable,                                                                          this action if you are an agricultural
                                           root, subgroup 1A, except sugar beet,                          SUMMARY: This regulation amends the                producer, food manufacturer, or
                                           garden beet, radish, and turnip’’.                             exemption from the requirement of a                pesticide manufacturer. The following
                                           ■ b. Remove from the table in paragraph                        tolerance for residues of                          list of North American Industrial
                                           (d) the entries ‘‘Beet, garden, roots’’;                       tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) (CAS Classification System (NAICS) codes is
                                           ‘‘Cowpea, seed’’; ‘‘Lupin, grain, grain’’;                     Reg. No. 97–99–4) when used as an inert not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
                                           ‘‘Pea field, seed’’; ‘‘Radish, roots’’; and                    ingredient in pesticide formulations to            provides a guide to help readers
                                           ‘‘Turnip, roots’’.                                             add one herbicide application prior to             determine whether this document
                                              The additions read as follows:                              the preboot stage on buckwheat, oats,              applies to them. Potentially affected
                                                                                                          rye, sorghum, triticale, rice and wild             entities may include:
                                           § 180.589 Boscalid; tolerances for                             rice; extend use on canola to the early               • Crop production (NAICS code 111).
                                           residues.                                                                                                            • Animal production (NAICS code
                                                                                                          bolting stage; extend use on soybeans
                                              (a) * * *                                                   prior to the bloom growth stage; and               112).
                                              (1) * * *                                                                                                         • Food manufacturing (NAICS code
                                                                                                          allow use in herbicides with two
                                                                                                          applications to field corn and popcorn             311).
                                                                                             Parts  per
                                                        Commodity                             million     prior to 36 inches tall (V8 stage). Toxcel,           • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
                                                                                                          LLC, on behalf of Penn A Kem, LLC,                 code 32532).
                                                                                                          submitted a petition to EPA under the              B. How can I get electronic access to
                                               *            *              *               *        *     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
                                           Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup                                                                                  other related information?
                                                                                                          (FFDCA), requesting an amendment to
                                              4–16B, except watercress ......                         60
                                                                                                          an existing exemption from the                        You may access a frequently updated
                                                                                                          requirement     of a tolerance.      This          electronic version of 40 CFR part 180
                                               *            *              *               *        *                                                        through the Government Printing
                                           Celtuce ........................................            45 regulation eliminates the need to
                                                                                                          establish a maximum permissible level              Office’s e-CFR site at http://
                                               *            *              *               *        *     for residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl                 www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr
                                           Fennel, Florence .........................                 45 alcohol.                                            &tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.
                                                                                                          DATES: This regulation is effective                C. How can I file an objection or hearing
                                               *            *              *               *        *
                                           Kohlrabi .......................................           6.0 October 19, 2018. Objections and                   request?
                                           Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup                                requests for hearings must be received                Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
                                              22B ..........................................           45 on or before December 18, 2018, and                U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
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                                           Leafy greens subgroup 4–16A ...                             70 must be filed in accordance with the               objection to any aspect of this regulation
                                                                                                          instructions provided in 40 CFR part               and may also request a hearing on those
                                               *            *              *               *        *
                                                                                                          178 (see also Unit I.C. of the                     objections. You must file your objection
                                           Pea and bean, dried shelled, ex-
                                              cept soybean, subgroup 6C ....                          2.5 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).                        or request a hearing on this regulation
                                           Pea and bean, succulent                                        ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,             in accordance with the instructions
                                              shelled, subgroup 6B ..............                   0.60 identified by docket identification (ID)            provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure


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                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                        52997

                                           proper receipt by EPA, you must                         bloom growth stage. That document                     Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA
                                           identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–                       referenced a summary of the petition                  defines ‘‘safe’’ to mean that ‘‘there is a
                                           OPP–2013–0098 in the subject line on                    prepared by Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of                 reasonable certainty that no harm will
                                           the first page of your submission. All                  Penn A Kem, LLC, the petitioner, which                result from aggregate exposure to the
                                           objections and requests for a hearing                   is available in the docket, http://                   pesticide chemical residue, including
                                           must be in writing, and must be                         www.regulations.gov. There were no                    all anticipated dietary exposures and all
                                           received by the Hearing Clerk on or                     comments received in response to the                  other exposures for which there is
                                           before December 18, 2018. Addresses for                 notice of filing.                                     reliable information.’’ This includes
                                           mail and hand delivery of objections                       Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of Penn A                   exposure through drinking water and in
                                           and hearing requests are provided in 40                 Kem, LLC, submitted a revised pesticide               residential settings, but does not include
                                           CFR 178.25(b).                                          petition to supersede the previously                  occupational exposure. In making this
                                             In addition to filing an objection or                 submitted petition. EPA issued a                      safety finding, EPA is required to take
                                           hearing request with the Hearing Clerk                  document in the Federal Register of                   into account the considerations set forth
                                           as described in 40 CFR part 178, please                 April 6, 2015 (80 FR 18327) (FRL–9924–                in section 408(b)(2)(C) and (D). 21
                                           submit a copy of the filing (excluding                  00), pursuant to FFDCA section 408, 21                U.S.C. 346a(c)(2)(B). Section
                                           any Confidential Business Information                   U.S.C. 346a, announcing the filing of                 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to
                                           (CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.              this revised petition. The revised                    give special consideration to exposure
                                           Information not marked confidential                     petition requested that 40 CFR 180.1263               of infants and children to the pesticide
                                           pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be                        be amended to allow one herbicide                     chemical residue in establishing a
                                           disclosed publicly by EPA without prior                 application prior to the preboot stage for            tolerance and to ‘‘ensure that there is a
                                           notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your                 wheat, buckwheat, barley, oats, rye,                  reasonable certainty that no harm will
                                           objection or hearing request, identified                sorghum, triticale, rice, and wild rice;              result to infants and children from
                                           by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–                         extend the use on canola to the early                 aggregate exposure to the pesticide
                                           2013–0098, by one of the following                      bolting stage; extend the use on                      chemical residue. . . .’’
                                           methods:                                                soybeans up to the bloom growth stage;                   EPA establishes exemptions from the
                                             • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                 and allow two herbicide applications to               requirement of a tolerance only in those
                                           www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                  field corn and popcorn up to 36 inches                cases where it can be clearly
                                           instructions for submitting comments.                   tall (V8 stage). That document                        demonstrated that the risks from
                                           Do not submit electronically any                        referenced a summary of the petition                  aggregate exposure to pesticide
                                           information you consider to be CBI or                   prepared by Toxcel, LLC, on behalf of                 chemical residues under reasonably
                                           other information whose disclosure is                   Penn A Kem, LLC, the petitioner, which                foreseeable circumstances will pose no
                                           restricted by statute.                                  is available in the docket, http://                   appreciable risks to human health. In
                                             • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental                     www.regulations.gov. There were no                    order to determine the risks from
                                           Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/                   comments received in response to the                  aggregate exposure to pesticide inert
                                           DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.                   notice of filing.                                     ingredients, the Agency considers the
                                           NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001.                                                                                toxicity of the inert in conjunction with
                                             • Hand Delivery: To make special                      III. Inert Ingredient Definition
                                                                                                                                                         possible exposure to residues of the
                                           arrangements for hand delivery or                          Inert ingredients are all ingredients              inert ingredient through food, drinking
                                           delivery of boxed information, please                   that are not active ingredients as defined            water, and through other exposures that
                                           follow the instructions at http://                      in 40 CFR 153.125 and include, but are                occur as a result of pesticide use in
                                           www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.                      not limited to, the following types of                residential settings. If EPA is able to
                                             Additional instructions on                            ingredients (except when they have a                  determine that a finite tolerance is not
                                           commenting or visiting the docket,                      pesticidal efficacy of their own):                    necessary to ensure that there is a
                                           along with more information about                       Solvents such as alcohols and                         reasonable certainty that no harm will
                                           dockets generally, is available at http://              hydrocarbons; surfactants such as                     result from aggregate exposure to the
                                           www.epa.gov/dockets.                                    polyoxyethylene polymers and fatty                    inert ingredient, an exemption from the
                                                                                                   acids; carriers such as clay and                      requirement of a tolerance may be
                                           II. Petition for Exemption
                                                                                                   diatomaceous earth; thickeners such as                established.
                                              In the Federal Register of February                  carrageenan and modified cellulose;                      Consistent with FFDCA section
                                           27, 2013 (78 FR 13295) (FRL–9380–2),                    wetting, spreading, and dispersing                    408(c)(2)(A), and the factors specified in
                                           EPA issued a document pursuant to                       agents; propellants in aerosol                        FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), EPA has
                                           FFDCA section 408, 21 U.S.C. 346a,                      dispensers; microencapsulating agents;                reviewed the available scientific data
                                           announcing the filing of a pesticide                    and emulsifiers. The term ‘‘inert’’ is not            and other relevant information in
                                           petition (PP 2E8080) by Toxcel, LLC,                    intended to imply nontoxicity; the                    support of this action. EPA has
                                           7140 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainsville,                ingredient may or may not be                          sufficient data to assess the hazards of
                                           VA 20156 on behalf of Penn A Kem,                       chemically active. Generally, EPA has                 and to make a determination on
                                           LLC, 3324 Chelsea Avenue, Memphis,                      exempted inert ingredients from the                   aggregate exposure for
                                           TN 38108. The petition requested                        requirement of a tolerance based on the               tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol including
                                           amendment of the exemption from the                     low toxicity of the individual inert                  exposure resulting from the exemption
                                           requirement of a tolerance in 40 CFR                    ingredients.                                          established by this action. EPA’s
                                           180.1263 for residues of                                                                                      assessment of exposures and risks
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) (CAS                  IV. Aggregate Risk Assessment and
                                                                                                                                                         associated with tetrahydrofurfuryl
                                           Reg. No. 97–99–4) when used as an inert                 Determination of Safety
                                                                                                                                                         alcohol follows.
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                                           ingredient (solvent/cosolvent) to                          Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA
                                           include allowance of one herbicide                      allows EPA to establish an exemption                  A. Toxicological Profile
                                           application prior to the preboot stage to               from the requirement for a tolerance (the               EPA has evaluated the available
                                           all small cereal grains; extended use on                legal limit for a pesticide chemical                  toxicity data and considered their
                                           canola to the early bolting stage; and                  residue in or on a food) only if EPA                  validity, completeness, and reliability as
                                           extended use on soybeans up to the                      determines that the exemption is ‘‘safe.’’            well as the relationship of the results of


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                                           52998             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                           the studies to human risk. EPA has also                 spermatogenic activity was noted in                      There are currently no chronic
                                           considered available information                        males of the 3,000 ppm group (75 mg/                  toxicity or cancer studies available for
                                           concerning the variability of the                       kg/day) and was interpreted as a                      tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The Agency
                                           sensitivities of major identifiable                     prodromal sign of atrophy.                            used a qualitative structure activity
                                           subgroups of consumers, including                          A 28-day repeated oral (gavage) study              relationship (SAR) database, DEREK
                                           infants and children. Specific                          in rats revealed significant decreases in             Nexus, to determine if there were
                                           information on the studies received and                 absolute testes and epididymal weights                structural alerts for potential
                                           the nature of the adverse effects caused                after 28 days at a dose level of 600 mg/              carcinogenicity for tetrahydrofurfuryl
                                           by tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol as well as                kg/day which continued through the 14-                alcohol. No structural alerts for
                                           the no-observed-adverse-effect-level                    day recovery period. Necrosis of the                  carcinogenicity were identified for
                                           (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-                        seminiferous tubular epithelium of the                tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. In the
                                           adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) from the                   testes was also observed in males of the              absence of any structural alerts and lack
                                           toxicity studies can be found at http://                150 and 600 mg/kg/day group at 28                     of mutagenicity concerns,
                                           www.regulations.gov in the document                     days. Necrosis of the testes was also
                                                                                                                                                         tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not
                                           ‘‘Hazard Assessment for the Tolerance                   observed in males of the 600 mg/kg/day
                                                                                                                                                         expected to be carcinogenic.
                                           Reassessment of Tetrahydrofurfuryl                      group at the end of the 14-day recovery
                                           alcohol (THFA)(CAS Reg. No. 97–99–                      period.                                               B. Toxicological Points of Departure/
                                           4)’’ at pp 8–12 in docket ID number                        In the reproduction/developmental                  Levels of Concern
                                           EPA–HQ–OPP–2013–0098. A summary                         toxicity screening test in rats, no
                                           of the toxicity of tetrahydrofurfuryl                   reproductive parameters were affected                    Once a pesticide’s toxicological
                                           alcohol as given in that document                       except slightly increased gestation                   profile is determined, EPA identifies
                                           follows.                                                length at the high dose of 150 mg/kg/                 toxicological points of departure (POD)
                                              Acute toxicity information is available              day.                                                  and levels of concern to use in
                                           for the oral route with an LD50 for the                    The endocrine system may also be a                 evaluating the risk posed by human
                                           rat of 1.6–3.2 g/kg. Tetrahydrofurfuryl                 target for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.                exposure to the pesticide. For hazards
                                           alcohol was not irritating to the skin of               Alterations in pituitary, thymus,                     that have a threshold below which there
                                           mice but was irritating to the eyes of                  adrenal, and thyroid weights have been                is no appreciable risk, the toxicological
                                           rabbits. Acute dermal and inhalation                    reported after subchronic exposure (28                POD is used as the basis for derivation
                                           toxicity, as well as dermal sensitization               days) to 600 mg/kg/day in male rats and               of reference values for risk assessment.
                                           information, currently are not available.               pituitary weights at 150 mg/kg/day in                 PODs are developed based on a careful
                                           However, there are reports that suggest                 female rats. Decreased absolute and                   analysis of the doses in each
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol may be                       relative adrenal weights were observed                toxicological study to determine the
                                           moderately irritating via the dermal and                in males and females receiving 5,000                  dose at which no adverse effects are
                                           inhalation routes of exposure to                        ppm (equivalent to 339 mg/kg/day                      observed (the NOAEL) and the lowest
                                           humans.                                                 males and 401 mg/kg/day females).                     dose at which adverse effects of concern
                                              Although data on chronic effects is                     In one developmental toxicity study                are identified (the LOAEL). Uncertainty/
                                           unavailable, subchronic studies indicate                in rats a quantitative susceptibility
                                                                                                                                                         safety factors are used in conjunction
                                           that systemic effects from repeated                     based on decreased fetal body weights
                                                                                                                                                         with the POD to calculate a safe
                                           dermal and oral exposure to                             and a qualitative susceptibility based on
                                                                                                                                                         exposure level—generally referred to as
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol include                      increased incidence of filamentous tail
                                                                                                                                                         a population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a
                                           decreased body weight and body weight                   was observed. However, in a more
                                           gain. Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol also                                                                         reference dose (RfD)—and a safe margin
                                                                                                   recent reproduction/developmental
                                           exhibits adverse reproductive and                       toxicity screening test (OECD 421                     of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold
                                           developmental effects, and potential                    guideline study) in rats, an increased                risks, the Agency assumes that any
                                           effects on the endocrine system.                        incidence of filamentous tail was not                 amount of exposure will lead to some
                                              Males are not only quantitatively                    evident nor was there any other                       degree of risk. Thus, the Agency
                                           more sensitive to the subchronic effects                evidence of increased qualitative                     estimates risk in terms of the probability
                                           of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol than                      susceptibility. Based on the overall                  of an occurrence of the adverse effect
                                           females, but the male reproductive                      weight of evidence for developmental                  expected in a lifetime. For more
                                           system appears to be a target for                       toxicity, it is determined that there is              information on the general principles
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Consistent                  increased quantitative susceptibility but             EPA uses in risk characterization and a
                                           decreases in male reproductive organ                    not increased qualitative susceptibility.             complete description of the risk
                                           weights (testicular, epididymal, and                       A neurotoxicity study is not available             assessment process, see http://
                                           seminal vesicle) were observed in rats in               for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, however               www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/
                                           the 90-day dietary (LOAEL 339 mg/kg/                    no neurotoxic effects were observed in                riskassess.htm. A discussion of the
                                           day), dermal (LOAEL 300 mg/kg/day),                     the available subchronic oral, dermal                 toxicological endpoints for
                                           and inhalation (LOAEL <0.21 mg/L/day)                   and inhalation toxicity studies.                      tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol used for
                                           toxicity studies. In addition, a 90-day                    Mutagenicity studies indicate                      human risk assessment can be found at
                                           oral (dietary) study in dogs revealed                   tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not                     http://www.regulations.gov in the
                                           decreased testes weights of males in all                mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium                   document ‘‘Hazard Assessment for the
                                           treated groups (1,000, 3,000, 6,000 ppm,                or E. coli with or without metabolic                  Tolerance Reassessment of
                                           equivalent to approximately 25, 75, and                 activation. Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol                Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA)
                                           150 mg/kg/day), compared to controls,                   was also negative for causing structural              (CAS Reg. No. 97–99–4) at pp. 6–8 in
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                                           with severe testicular atrophy in all                   chromosomal aberrations or polyploidy                 docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2013–
                                           males at the highest dose (6,000 ppm or                 with or without metabolic activation in               0098’’. A summary of the toxicological
                                           150 mg/kg/day). Decreased                               cultured Chinese hamster lung cells.                  dose and endpoints for THFA follows:




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                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                      52999

                                               TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF TOXICOLOGICAL DOSES AND ENDPOINTS FOR TETRAHYDROFURFURYL ALCOHOL FOR USE IN
                                                                                  HUMAN RISK ASSESSMENT
                                                                                    Point of departure
                                                                                            and                    RfD, PAD, LOC for
                                                  Exposure/scenario                                                                                                 Study and toxicological effects
                                                                                    uncertainty/safety              risk assessment
                                                                                          factors

                                           Acute dietary (Females 13–50           NOAEL = [50] mg/                Acute RfD = [0.5]                 [Developmental rat].
                                             years of age).                        kg/day.                          mg/kg/day.                      LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on [decreased fetal body
                                                                                  UFA = [10] x                    aPAD = [0.05] mg/                   weight and increased incidence of filamentous tail, complete
                                                                                  UFH = [10]x                       kg/day                            resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day].
                                                                                  FQPA SF = [10]x

                                           Acute dietary (General popu-           None ........................   NA ............................   No acute effects relevant to the general population were ob-
                                             lation including infants and                                                                             served in the available studies.
                                             children).

                                           Chronic dietary (All populations)      NOAEL= [50] mg/kg/              Chronic RfD = [0.5]               [Developmental rat].
                                                                                   day.                             mg/kg/day.                      LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on [decreased fetal body
                                                                                  UFA = [10]x                     cPAD = [0.05] mg/                   weight and increased incidence of filamentous tail, complete
                                                                                  UFH = [10]x                       kg/day                            resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day].
                                                                                  FQPA SF = [10]x

                                           Incidental oral short-term (1 to       NOAEL= [50] mg/kg/              LOC for MOE =                     [Developmental, rat].
                                             30 days).                             day.                             [1,000].                        LOAEL = [100] mg/kg/day based on [decreased fetal body
                                                                                  UFA = [10]x                                                         weight and increased incidence of filamentous tail, complete
                                                                                  UFH = [10]x                                                         resorptions at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day].
                                                                                  FQPA SF = [10]x

                                           Dermal short-term (1 to 30             Dermal study                    LOC for MOE =                     [90-day dermal, rat].
                                             days).                                 NOAEL = [100]                   [1,000].                        LOAEL = [300 and 1,000] mg/kg/day M/F respectively based
                                                                                    mg/kg/day.                                                        on [decreased sperm count and sperm production rate in
                                                                                  UFA = [10]x                                                         males, lower body weight/gains in females].
                                                                                  UFH = [10]x
                                                                                  FQPA SF = [10]x

                                           Inhalation short-term (1 to 30         Inhalation study                LOC for MOE =                     [90-day inhalation, rat].
                                             days).                                 LOAEL=0.21 mg/l.                [1000].                         LOAEL = [0.21] mg/L (50 ppm; approx. 60 mg/kg/day) based
                                                                                  UFA = [10]x                                                         on. Decreased body weight of males at 150 and 500 ppm.
                                                                                  UFH = [10]x                                                         Multiple effects on sperm number, motility, and morphology
                                                                                  FQPA SF = [10]x                                                     at interim and terminal necropsy of males at both 150 and
                                                                                                                                                      500 ppm].

                                           Cancer (Oral, dermal, inhala-          Classification: No structural alerts for carcinogenicity were identified for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol using a quali-
                                             tion).                               tative structure activity relationship (SAR) database, DEREK Nexus. In the absence of any structural alerts
                                                                                  and lack of mutagenicity concerns, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not expected to be carcinogenic.
                                             FQPA SF = Food Quality Protection Act Safety Factor. LOAEL = lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level. LOC = level of concern. mg/kg/day =
                                           milligram/kilogram/day. MOE = margin of exposure. NOAEL = no-observed-adverse-effect-level. PAD = population adjusted dose (a = acute, c =
                                           chronic). RfD = reference dose. UF = uncertainty factor. UFA = extrapolation from animal to human (interspecies). UFDB = to account for the ab-
                                           sence of data or other data deficiency. UFH = potential variation in sensitivity among members of the human population (intraspecies). UFL = use
                                           of a LOAEL to extrapolate a NOAEL. UFS = use of a short-term study for long-term risk assessment.


                                           C. Exposure Assessment                                     What We Eat in America (NHANES/                               Assessment for the Inerts’’ (D361707, S.
                                                                                                      WWEIA).                                                       Piper 2/25/09) and can be found at
                                              1. Dietary exposure from food and
                                                                                                        In the absence of specific residue                          http://www.regulations.gov in docket ID
                                           feed uses. In evaluating dietary
                                                                                                      data, EPA has developed an approach                           number EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0738.
                                           exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol,
                                           EPA considered exposure under the                          which uses surrogate information to                              In the case of tetrahydrofurfuryl
                                           proposed exemption from the                                derive upper-bound exposure estimates                         alcohol residues resulting from foliar
                                           requirement of a tolerance. EPA                            for the subject inert ingredient. Upper-                      applications, EPA made specific
                                           assessed dietary exposures from                            bound exposure estimates are based on                         adjustments to the dietary exposure
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in food as                      the highest tolerance for a given                             assessments to account for the use
                                           follows:                                                   commodity from a list of high-use                             limitations of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol
                                              2. Acute and chronic exposure. In                       insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.                      as well as some residue chemistry data
                                           conducting the acute and chronic                           A complete discussion of the general                          (plant uptake data) submitted with the
                                           dietary exposure assessments using the                     approach taken to assess inert                                petition. The use of the dietary
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                                           Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model                          ingredient risks in the absence of                            estimated exposure model (DEEM) for
                                           DEEM–FCIDTM, Version 3.18, EPA used                        residue data is contained in the                              upper-bound dietary risk assessments as
                                           food consumption information from the                      memorandum entitled ‘‘Alkyl Amines                            described above was modified to
                                           U.S. Department of Agriculture’s                           Polyethoxylates (Cluster 4): Acute and                        include only those commodities on
                                           (USDA’s) 2003–2008 National Health                         Chronic Aggregate (Food and Drinking                          which pesticide formulations containing
                                           and Nutrition Examination Survey,                          Water) Dietary Exposure and Risk                              tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol are being


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                                           53000             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                           used or are proposed to be used.                        surface disinfection on walls, floors,                case of threshold effects to account for
                                           Specifically, the dietary exposure                      tables).                                              prenatal and postnatal toxicity and the
                                           assessment considered foliar uses of                       Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is                      completeness of the database on toxicity
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol on wheat,                    contained in a pesticide currently                    and exposure unless EPA determines
                                           buckwheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum,                  registered for uses that could result in              based on reliable data that a different
                                           triticale, rice and wild rice, canola,                  residential exposures. The use pattern of             margin of safety will be safe for infants
                                           cotton, field corn, and popcorn as                      the product includes application to                   and children. This additional margin of
                                           contained in the existing tolerance                     dogs. EPA assessed this residential                   safety is commonly referred to as the
                                           exemption expression and that are the                   exposure using the Agency’s Standard                  FQPA Safety Factor (SF). In applying
                                           subject of the present petitions. A                     Operating Procedures for Residential                  this provision, EPA either retains the
                                           residue chemistry study (a radiolabeled                 Pesticide Exposure Assessment                         default value of 10X, or uses a different
                                           plant uptake study with THFA in corn,                   Residential Exposure (Residential SOP).               additional safety factor when reliable
                                           tomato, and wheat) suggest that the                     Based on the Treated Pets section of the              data available to EPA support the choice
                                           highest reported detectable level of                    Residential SOP, the following                        of a different factor.
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol residues                     assumptions are made: for residential                    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity.
                                           resulting from foliar application in these              handlers, exposure (dermal and                        The data available for evaluation suggest
                                           crops is 0.5 ppm and this value is used                 inhalation) is expected to be short-term              there is evidence of increased
                                           in the dietary exposure assessment for                  only. Residential post-application                    quantitative susceptibility of the
                                           the commodities included in the                         dermal exposure (short-term only) was                 offspring after in utero exposure to
                                           tolerance exemption.                                    assessed for adults and children.                     tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. No
                                              For seed treatment use, it was                       Residential post-application inhalation               reproductive parameters were affected
                                           conservatively assumed that all of the                  exposure is generally not assessed for                except slightly increased gestation
                                           following commodities (which represent                  pet treatment product uses as such                    length at the high dose of 150 mg/kg/
                                           an agglomeration of all commodities for                 exposure is typically considered to be                day in the OECD 421 study in rats.
                                           which seed treatment pesticide products                 negligible. Incidental oral post-                     There is also a concern for the effects of
                                           are approved for use) could potentially                 application exposure was assessed for                 tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol on the
                                           be treated with a seed treatment                        children 1 to 2 years old. All post-                  developing male reproductive system.
                                           pesticide containing tetrahydrofurfuryl                 application exposures are expected to be              Subchronic and reproductive toxicity
                                           alcohol: barley, corn (field, pop, sweet                short-term in duration. Further                       studies consistently revealed decreased
                                           and corn for seed production), legume                   information regarding EPA standard                    testicular epididymis and seminal
                                           vegetables (dried shelled peas and                      assumptions and generic inputs for                    vesicle weights as well as atrophy of the
                                                                                                   residential exposures may be found at                 epididymis and seminal vesicles and
                                           beans), brassica and bulb vegetables,
                                                                                                   http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/trac/                   abnormal morphology and motility of
                                           alfalfa, cucurbits, rye, wheat, cotton,
                                                                                                   science/trac6a05.pdf.                                 sperm. The level at which
                                           sugar beets, and sunflowers. For seed                      5. Cumulative effects from substances
                                           treatment use, in the absence of THFA-                                                                        tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol may affect
                                                                                                   with a common mechanism of toxicity.
                                           specific data, residue chemistry data for                                                                     the reproductive system during
                                                                                                   Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA
                                           active ingredients with seed treatment                                                                        development is currently not known.
                                                                                                   requires that, when considering whether
                                           uses were utilized. Residue levels for                  to establish, modify, or revoke a                        3. Conclusion. EPA has determined
                                           pesticide active ingredients used for                   tolerance, the Agency consider                        that based on evidence of quantitative
                                           seed treatment are all below the limit of               ‘‘available information’’ concerning the              and qualitative susceptibility the safety
                                           detection, so a highly conservative value               cumulative effects of a particular                    of infants and children would be
                                           of 0.05 ppm is used in the dietary                      pesticide’s residues and ‘‘other                      adequately protected if the FQPA SF
                                           exposure assessment as a residue value                  substances that have a common                         was retained at 10x for all scenarios.
                                           for THFA for all seed treatment                         mechanism of toxicity.’’                              That decision is based on the following
                                           commodities based on application of                        EPA has not found tetrahydrofurfuryl               findings:
                                           Agency policies for assigning values to                 alcohol to share a common mechanism                      i. The toxicity database for
                                           nondetected/nonquantified pesticide                     of toxicity with any other substances,                tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol consists of a
                                           residues.                                               and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol does not               28-day and 90-day oral toxicity studies
                                              3. Dietary exposure from drinking                    appear to produce a toxic metabolite                  in rats, dogs, 90-day dermal toxicity
                                           water. For the purpose of the screening                 produced by other substances. For the                 study in rats, 90-day inhalation toxicity
                                           level dietary risk assessment to support                purposes of this tolerance action,                    study in rats, several mutagenicity
                                           this request for an exemption from the                  therefore, EPA has assumed that                       studies, developmental/reproductive
                                           requirement of a tolerance for                          tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol does not have              toxicity screening study in rats, and a
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol a                            a common mechanism of toxicity with                   developmental toxicity study and
                                           conservative drinking water                             other substances. For information                     reproductive toxicity study in rats.
                                           concentration value of 100 ppb based on                 regarding EPA’s efforts to determine                     ii. Slight atrophy of thymus was seen
                                           screening level modeling was used to                    which chemicals have a common                         in high dose animal groups in the 28-
                                           assess the contribution to drinking                     mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate                 day oral toxicity study, which may be
                                           water for the chronic dietary risk                      the cumulative effects of such                        indicative of an immune response,
                                           assessments for parent compound.                        chemicals, see EPA’s website at http://               however no guideline immunotoxicity
                                           These values were directly entered into                 www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.                    study is available.
                                           the dietary exposure model.                                                                                      iii. Evidence of increased quantitative
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                                              4. From non-dietary exposure. The                    D. Safety Factor for Infants and                      susceptibility of offspring is seen in the
                                           term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in                Children                                              developmental toxicity study.
                                           this document to refer to non-                            1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of                 iv. Additionally, alterations in the
                                           occupational, non-dietary exposure                      FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply                   male reproductive system from
                                           (e.g., textiles (clothing and diapers),                 an additional tenfold (10X) margin of                 subchronic exposure to
                                           carpets, swimming pools, and hard                       safety for infants and children in the                tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol does indicate


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                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                          53001

                                           a concern for effects to the developing                 result in short-term residential                      barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice
                                           male reproductive system.                               exposure, and the Agency has                          and wild rice; extended use on canola
                                              v. The FQPA factor of 10X is                         determined that it is appropriate to                  to the early bolting stage; extended use
                                           considered adequate to account for                      aggregate chronic exposure through food               on soybeans up to the bloom stage; and
                                           potential immunotoxicity and                            and water with short-term residential                 allowance of two applications to field
                                           uncertainty regarding the developing                    exposures to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.              corn and popcorn up to 36 inches tall
                                           reproductive system in males because                       Using the exposure assumptions                     (V8 stage) is safe under FFDCA section
                                           clear NOAELs are established in the                     described in this unit for short-term                 408.
                                           available database.                                     exposures, EPA has concluded the
                                              vi. There are no residual uncertainties              combined chronic food, water, and                     V. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
                                           identified in the exposure databases. As                short-term residential exposures result                  An analytical method is not required
                                           described earlier, EPA used highly                      in aggregate MOEs of 13,100 for adults                for enforcement purposes since the
                                           conservative assumptions for the dietary                and 9,800 for children 1–2 years old.                 Agency is establishing an exemption
                                           food exposure assessment. EPA made                      Because EPA’s level of concern for                    from the requirement of a tolerance
                                           conservative (protective) assumptions in                tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is a MOE of                without any numerical limitation.
                                           the ground and surface water modeling                   1,000 or below, these MOEs are not of                 VI. Conclusion
                                           used to assess exposure to                              concern.
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in drinking                     4. Intermediate-term risk.                            Therefore, the exemption from the
                                           water. EPA used similarly conservative                  Intermediate-term aggregate exposure                  requirement of a tolerance under 40 CFR
                                           assumptions to assess residential                       takes into account intermediate-term                  180.1263 is amended to add exemption
                                           exposures of children to                                residential exposure plus chronic                     from the requirement of a tolerance for
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. These                       exposure to food and water (considered                residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol
                                           assessments will not underestimate the                  to be a background exposure level).                   (CAS Reg. No. 97–99–4) when used as
                                           exposure and risks.                                        An intermediate-term adverse effect                an inert ingredient (solvent) in
                                                                                                   was identified; however,                              herbicides applied to wheat, buckwheat,
                                           E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of                 tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is not                     barley, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice
                                           Safety                                                  contained in any pesticide products                   and wild rice prior to the pre-boot stage;
                                              EPA determines whether acute and                     registered for any use patterns that                  use on canola to the early bolting stage;
                                           chronic dietary pesticide exposures are                 would result in intermediate-term                     use on soybeans up to the bloom stage;
                                           safe by comparing aggregate exposure                    residential exposure. Intermediate-term               and two applications to field corn and
                                           estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and                   risk is assessed based on intermediate-               popcorn up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage).
                                           chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer                   term residential exposure plus chronic
                                                                                                                                                         VII. Statutory and Executive Order
                                           risks, EPA calculates the lifetime                      dietary exposure. Because there is no
                                                                                                                                                         Reviews
                                           probability of acquiring cancer given the               intermediate-term residential exposure
                                           estimated aggregate exposure. Short-,                   and chronic dietary exposure has                         This final rule establishes exemptions
                                           intermediate-, and chronic-term risks                   already been assessed under the                       from the requirement of a tolerance
                                           are evaluated by comparing the                          appropriately protective cPAD (which is               under FFDCA section 408(d) in
                                           estimated aggregate food, water, and                    at least as protective as the POD used to             response to a petition submitted to the
                                           residential exposure to the appropriate                 assess intermediate-term risk), no                    Agency. The Office of Management and
                                           PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE                     further assessment of intermediate-term               Budget (OMB) has exempted these types
                                           exists.                                                 risk is necessary, and EPA relies on the              of actions from review under Executive
                                              1. Acute risk. Using the exposure                    chronic dietary risk assessment for                   Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory
                                           assumptions discussed in this unit for                  evaluating intermediate-term risk for                 Planning and Review’’ (58 FR 51735,
                                           acute exposure, EPA has concluded that                  tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.                           October 4, 1993). Because this final rule
                                           acute exposure to tetrahydrofurfuryl                       5. Cancer. Based on the lack of                    has been exempted from review under
                                           alcohol from food and water will utilize                genotoxicity and a DEREK assessment of                Executive Order 12866, this final rule is
                                           8.88% of the aPAD for females 13–49                     tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol that revealed              not subject to Executive Order 13211,
                                           years old.                                              no structural alerts suggestive of                    entitled ‘‘Actions Concerning
                                              2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure                  carcinogenicity, tetrahydrofurfuryl                   Regulations That Significantly Affect
                                           assumptions described in this unit for                  alcohol is therefore not expected to pose             Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66
                                           chronic exposure, EPA has concluded                     a cancer risk to humans.                              FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive
                                           that chronic exposure to                                   6. Determination of safety. Taking                 Order 13045, entitled ‘‘Protection of
                                           tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol from food                    into consideration all available                      Children from Environmental Health
                                           and water will utilize 8.5% of the cPAD                 information on tetrahydrofurfuryl                     Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
                                           for children 1–2 years old, the                         alcohol, EPA has determined that there                April 23, 1997). This final rule does not
                                           population group receiving the greatest                 is a reasonable certainty that no harm to             contain any information collections
                                           exposure. Based on the explanation in                   any population subgroup will result                   subject to OMB approval under the
                                           Unit III.C.3., regarding residential use                from aggregate exposure to                            Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
                                           patterns, chronic residential exposure to               tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol resulting                  U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), nor does it require
                                           residues of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is               from the limited uses contained in 40                 any special considerations under
                                           not expected.                                           CFR 180.1263. Therefore, the                          Executive Order 12898, entitled
                                              3. Short-term risk. Short-term                       amendment of the exemption from                       ‘‘Federal Actions to Address
                                           aggregate exposure takes into account                   requirement of a tolerance at 40 CFR                  Environmental Justice in Minority
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                                           short-term residential exposure plus                    180.1263 for residues of                              Populations and Low-Income
                                           chronic exposure to food and water                      tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol when used as               Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16,
                                           (considered to be a background                          an inert ingredient in pesticide                      1994).
                                           exposure level). Tetrahydrofurfuryl                     formulations to include allowance of                     Since tolerances and exemptions that
                                           alcohol is contained in a pesticide                     one herbicide application prior to the                are established on the basis of a petition
                                           currently registered for uses that could                pre-boot stage to wheat, buckwheat,                   under FFDCA section 408(d), such as


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                                           53002             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                           the exemptions in this final rule, do not               Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995                  PART 180—[AMENDED]
                                           require the issuance of a proposed rule,                (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
                                           the requirements of the Regulatory                        This action does not involve any                    ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180
                                           Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et                  technical standards that would require                continues to read as follows:
                                           seq.), do not apply.                                    Agency consideration of voluntary
                                                                                                   consensus standards pursuant to section                   Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
                                              This final rule directly regulates                   12(d) of the National Technology
                                           growers, food processors, food handlers,                                                                      ■ 2. In § 180.1263, revise paragraphs (d)
                                                                                                   Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995                  and (e), and add paragraphs (f) and (g)
                                           and food retailers, not States or tribes,               (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
                                           nor does this action alter the                                                                                to read as follows:
                                           relationships or distribution of power                  VIII. Congressional Review Act
                                                                                                                                                         § 180.1263 Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol;
                                           and responsibilities established by                       Pursuant to the Congressional Review                exemption from the requirement of a
                                           Congress in the preemption provisions                   Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will                  tolerance.
                                           of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such,                    submit a report containing this rule and
                                                                                                                                                         *     *     *     *     *
                                           the Agency has determined that this                     other required information to the U.S.
                                           action will not have a substantial direct               Senate, the U.S. House of                               (d) For use in herbicides with one
                                           effect on States or tribal governments,                 Representatives, and the Comptroller                  application to wheat, buckwheat, barley,
                                           on the relationship between the national                General of the United States prior to                 oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, rice, and
                                           government and the States or tribal                     publication of the rule in the Federal                wild rice prior to the pre-boot stage.
                                           governments, or on the distribution of                  Register. This action is not a ‘‘major                  (e) For use in herbicides with two
                                           power and responsibilities among the                    rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                 applications to field corn and popcorn
                                           various levels of government or between                 List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180                   up to 36 inches tall (V8 stage).
                                           the Federal Government and Indian
                                                                                                     Environmental protection,                             (f) For use in herbicides with two
                                           tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined
                                                                                                   Administrative practice and procedure,                applications to canola prior to the early
                                           that Executive Order 13132, entitled
                                                                                                   Agricultural commodities, Pesticides                  bolting stage.
                                           ‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                                                                   and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping                  (g) For use in herbicides with two
                                           1999) and Executive Order 13175,
                                                                                                   requirements.                                         applications to soybeans prior to the
                                           entitled ‘‘Consultation and Coordination
                                           with Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR                   Dated: October 9, 2018.                             bloom growth stage.
                                           67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply                   Michael Goodis,                                       [FR Doc. 2018–22862 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]
                                           to this final rule. In addition, this final             Director, Registration Division, Office of            BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                           rule does not impose any enforceable                    Pesticide Programs.
                                           duty or contain any unfunded mandate                      Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
                                           as described under Title II of the                      amended as follows:
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES




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Document Created: 2018-10-19 01:25:23
Document Modified: 2018-10-19 01:25:23
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, 2018. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before December 18, 2018, 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 Citation83 FR 52996 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Agricultural Commodities; Pesticides and Pests and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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