Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemptions for Oxytetracycline and Streptomycin; Solicitation of Public Comment

EPA has received a request from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for specific exemptions to use the pesticides oxytetracycline calcium (CAS No. 7179-50-2), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (CAS No. 2058-46-0), and streptomycin sulfate (CAS No. 3810-74-0) to treat up to 388,534 acres of citrus to control Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus the bacteria which causes Huanglongbing (HLB), also referred to as citrus greening disease. Because the applicant proposes use of pesticides which are also used as human and animal antibiotic drugs, EPA is soliciting public comment before making decisions whether or not to grant the exemptions.