Organophosphate Pesticides: Bensulide and Profenofos; Availability of Revised Risk Assessments and Public Participation on Risk Management

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32229-32231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15282]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34190; FRL-6087-9]


Organophosphate Pesticides: Bensulide and Profenofos; 
Availability of Revised Risk Assessments and Public Participation on 
Risk Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for two organophosphate pesticides, 
bensulide and profenofos. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day 
public participation period during which the public is encouraged to 
submit risk management ideas or proposals. These actions are in 
response to a joint initiative between EPA and the Department of 
Agriculture to increase transparency in the tolerance reassessment 
process for organophosphate pesticides.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control numbers OPP-34132B for 
bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos, must be received by EPA on or 
before August 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in

[[Page 32230]]

person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as 
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section. To 
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos 
in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does This Action Apply To Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a 
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the revised 
risk assessments and submitting risk management comments on bensulide 
and profenofos, including environmental, human health, and agricultural 
advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the 
public interested in the use of pesticides on food. As such, the Agency 
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person 
listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This 
Document or Other Related Documents?

A. Electronically

    You may obtain electronic copies of this document and other related 
documents from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To 
access this document, on the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' 
and then look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal 
Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the 
Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    To access information about organophosphate pesticides and obtain 
electronic copies of the revised risk assessments and related documents 
mentioned in this notice, you can also go directly to the Home Page for 
the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) at http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/op/.

B. In Person

    The Agency has established official records for these actions under 
docket control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for 
profenofos. The official record consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action, any public comments received during an 
applicable comment period, and other information related to this 
action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business 
Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are 
physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are 
referenced in those documents. The public version of the official 
record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public 
version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions 
of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment 
period, is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

C. By Telephone

    If you need additional information about this action, you may also 
contact the person identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION'' 
section.

III. How Can I Respond To This Action?

A. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for 
profenofos in the subject line on the first page of your response.
    1. By mail. Submit comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver comments to: Public Information 
and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services 
Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 
Arlington, VA. The Document Control Office (DCO) is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB 
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: ``opp-
docket@epa.gov,'' or you may mail or deliver your standard computer 
disk using the addresses in this unit. Do not submit any information 
electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic comments must be 
submitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and 
any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. 
All comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket 
control numbers OPP-34132B for bensulide and OPP-34138B for profenofos. 
Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository 
Libraries.

B. How Should I Handle CBI Information That I Want To Submit To the 
Agency?

    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to 
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to 
this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as 
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete 
version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a 
copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as 
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the 
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included 
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If 
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, 
please consult the person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT'' section.

IV. What Action is EPA Taking in This Notice?

     EPA is making available for public viewing the revised risk 
assessments and related documents for two organophosphate pesticides, 
bensulide and profenofos. These documents have been developed as part 
of the pilot public participation process that EPA and USDA are now 
using for involving the public in the reassessment of pesticide 
tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the 
reregistration of individual organophosphate pesticides under the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The pilot 
public participation process was developed as part of the EPA-USDA 
Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC), which was established 
in April 1998, as a subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National 
Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology.

[[Page 32231]]

 A goal of the pilot public participation process is to find a more 
effective way for the public to participate at critical junctures in 
the Agency's development of organophosphate risk assessments and risk 
management decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot 
process in August 1998, to increase transparency and opportunities for 
stakeholder consultation. The documents being released to the public 
through this notice provide information on the revisions that were made 
to the bensulide and profenofos preliminary risk assessments, which 
where released to the public August 10, 1998 (63 FR 43175) (FRL-6024-3) 
through a notice in the Federal Register.
    In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public participation 
period during which the public is encouraged to submit risk management 
proposals or otherwise comment on risk management for bensulide and 
profenofos. The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this 
notice, for interested parties to provide written risk management 
proposals or ideas to the Agency on the chemicals specified in this 
notice. Such comments and proposals could address ideas about how to 
manage dietary, occupational, or ecological risks on specific bensulide 
and profenofos use sites or crops across the United States or in a 
particular geographic region of the country. To address dietary risk, 
for example, commentors may choose to discuss the feasibility of lower 
application rates, increasing the time interval between application and 
harvest (``pre-harvest intervals''), modifications in use, or suggest 
alternative measures to reduce residues contributing to dietary 
exposure. For occupational risks, commentors may suggest personal 
protective equipment or technologies to reduce exposure to workers and 
pesticide handlers. For ecological risks, commentors may suggest ways 
to reduce environmental exposure, e.g., birds, fish, mammals, and other 
non-target organisms. EPA will provide other opportunities for public 
participation and comment on issues associated with the organophosphate 
tolerance reassessment program. Failure to participate or comment as 
part of this opportunity will in no way prejudice or limit a 
commentor's opportunity to participate fully in later notice and 
comment processes. All comments and proposals must be received by EPA 
on or before August 16, 1999 at the addresses given under the 
``ADDRESSES'' section. Comments and proposals will become part of the 
Agency record for the organophosphate specified in this notice.

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: June 10, 1999.

Jack E. Housenger,

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

[FR Doc. 99-15282 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F