[Federal Register: October 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 63423-63424]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11oc02-111]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2002-0266; FRL-7276-1]
Methamidophos; Organophosphate Pesticide; Availability of Interim
Risk Management Decision Document
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Interim
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) document and technical
support documents for the organophosphate (OP) pesticide,
methamidophos. These documents have been developed using a public
participation process designed by EPA and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to involve the public in the reassessment of pesticide
tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act and the reregistration
of individual OPs under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hartman, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-0734; fax
number: (703) 308-8041; e-mail address: hartman.mark@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, but will interest
a widerange of stakeholders, 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. The
Agency has not attempted to describe all the persons or entities who
may be interested in or affected by this action. If you have questions
in this regard, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2002-0266. The
official public docket consists of the documents specifically
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other
information related to this action. Although a part of the official
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials
that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2,
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805. Please note
that technical supporting documents for methamidophos can be found
under legacy docket number OPP-34166 and may not be available in EPA
Dockets.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
An electronic version of the public docket is available through
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to view public comments,
access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket,
and to access those documents in the public docket that are available
electronically. Although not all docket materials may be available
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1.
Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate
docket ID number. Please note that technical supporting documents for
methamidophos can be found under legacy docket number OPP-34166 and may
not be available in EPA Dockets.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
For the OP pesticide methamidophos, the Agency is announcing the
availability of the IRED document and supporting technical documents.
EPA has assessed the risks associated with the use of methamidophos and
reached an interim reregistration eligibility decision for
methamidophos. The methamidophos IRED and supporting technical
documents were developed using the OP public participation process,
which was designed to increase transparency and maximize stakeholder
involvement and to provide numerous opportunities for public comment.
You can read more about the OP public participation process at http://
www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/process.htm. Below is a brief summary of
EPA's interim decision, which is fully described in the methamidophos
IRED document.
EPA has determined that methamidophos is eligible for
reregistration, pending a full reassessment of the cumulative risk from
all OP pesticides, and provided that all the conditions identified in
the IRED document are satisfied, including implementation of risk
mitigation measures. Without implementation of the risk mitigation
measures, the Agency has determined that methamidophos products may
pose unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Therefore, EPA expects that registrant will implement the risk
mitigation measures as soon as possible. The IRED document describes,
in detail, what is necessary for implementing the risk mitigation
measures, such as submission of label amendments for end-use products
and submission of any required data. Mitigation measures for
methamidophos include a phase out of methamidophos use on cotton by
2007. Should a registrant fail to implement any of the risk mitigation
identified in the IRED document, the Agency may take regulatory action
to address risk concerns from the use of methamidophos.
[[Page 63424]]
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
The legal authority for this action falls under FIFRA, as amended
in 1988 and 1996. Section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA directs that, after
submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in
product-specific data on individual end-use products, and either
reregistering products or taking ``other appropriate regulatory
action.''
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: September 24, 2002.
Lois Ann Rossi,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Registration
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-25861 Filed 10-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S