Availability of the Dicofol Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document for Comment

I. Electronic Availability

Electronic copies of this document and various support documents are available from the EPA home page at the Federal Register- Environmental Documents entry for this document under ``Laws and Regulations'' (www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/). Electronic copies of the REDs and RED fact sheets can be downloaded from the Pesticide Special Review and Reregistration Information System at (703) 308-7224, and also can be reached on the Internet via EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/REDs.

II. Reregistration Eligibility Decision

The Agency has issued a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document for the pesticidal active ingredient dicofol. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended in 1988, EPA is conducting a reregistration program to reevaluate existing pesticides to make sure they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. The data base to support the reregistration of dicofol is substantially complete. All registrants of products containing the above listed active ingredient have been sent the Dicofol RED document and must respond to labeling requirements and product specific data requirements within 8 months of receipt. Products containing other active ingredients will not be reregistered until those other active ingredients are determined to be eligible for reregistration. The reregistration program is being conducted under congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes both the need to make timely reregistration decisions and to involve the public. Therefore, EPA is issuing this RED as a final document with a 60-day comment period. Although the 60-day public comment period does not affect the registrant's response due date, it is intended to provide an opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating any necessary amendments to the RED. All comments will be carefully considered by the Agency.

III. Background Information

EPA has determined that products containing dicofol may be eligible for reregistration, as specified in the dicofol RED, contingent upon results of a dermal toxicity study due to the Agency in December 1998. EPA has identified a possible unacceptable occupational risk in the dicofol RED. However, the Agency believes that the assumptions used to arrive at this conclusion may have led to an overestimation of that risk (e.g., 100% dermal absorption). Therefore, EPA has found that it is not appropriate to declare dicofol ineligible at this time. One key consideration is the fact that the registrants will be submitting the dermal toxicity study mentioned above, which may be a more appropriate study for regulatory purposes than data currently used. Although the Agency would not normally delay a decision for a study voluntarily conducted by a registrant outside the RED timeframe, three factors make this appropriate here. First, the data will be delivered to the Agency very shortly. Second, the registrants have committed to significant risk mitigation measures to be implemented immediately (listed below), which address risk concern while the new data are being developed and evaluated. Third, the registrants have submitted a voluntary cancellation request, which will immediately go into effect for any dicofol use which is found to have unacceptable risk after consideration of the dermal toxicity study. EPA believes this process will address dicofol risk in a timeframe that is comparable or more rapid than what EPA could achieve through its own regulatory process. In sum, dicofol risk will be addressed in the interim in the following manner: To address risks to homeowners, residents, and children: \ All residential uses have been eliminated from labels and will be voluntarily canceled. To address risks to handlers: \ Mixers/loaders/applicators must wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE), and use enclosed cabs and cockpits. \ All wettable powder formulations produced after December 31, 1998 must be placed in water soluble packaging. \ Application with handheld equipment is eliminated for liquid formulations. \ Liquid formulations produced after December 31, 1998 must bear labeling

requiring closed mixing systems for dry beans. To address risks to workers (persons entering treated areas following applications of dicofol): \ A revised Restricted Entry Interval (REI) will be set, based on Dislodgeable Foliar Residue (DFR) data submitted in October, 1998, and on the dermal toxicity study being submitted in December, 1998. To protect the environment and wildlife: \ Dicofol applications are limited to no more than one per year. Previously, for some uses, the number of applications allowed per year was either unrestricted or limited to 2 or 3 applications per year. \ Dicofol applications on citrus will not exceed 3 pounds a.i./acre per year. This has been reduced from 8 pounds a.i./acre per year. \ Dicofol applications on strawberries will not exceed 2 pounds a.i./acre per year. This has been reduced from 2.4 pounds a.i./acre per year. \ A spray drift and Runoff Caution Statement is being added to the label. Also, a statement prohibiting application directly to water is being added to the label.

IV. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

The official record for this notice, as well as the public version, has been established for this notice under docket control number OPP- 34156 (including comments and data submitted electronically as described below). A public version of this record, including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The official record is located at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document. Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov

Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comment and data will also be accepted on disks in Wordperfect 6.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the docket control number (OPP-34156). Electronic comments on this notice may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection.

Dated: December 4, 1998.

Jack E. Housenger, Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-33334 Filed 12-15-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F