[Federal Register: September 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 174)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48213]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09se98-59]


[[Page 48213]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00552; FRL-6027-9]

 
EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee; Notice of 
Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC) 
has been established as a subcommittee under the auspices of the EPA 
National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology 
(NACEPT). The TRAC is in response to Vice President Gore's request for 
EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work together to 
ensure the smooth implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA).

DATES: The final TRAC meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 
1998, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 16, 1998, 
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EPA and USDA are considering options for 
extending this meeting, such as an evening session or an afternoon 
session on September 15th.

ADDRESSES: The TRAC meeting will be held at the Ramada Conference and 
Exhibition Center, 8500 Annapolis Rd., New Carrollton, MD [just off 
Interstate 495 at Exit 20B and 1/4 mile from the New Carrollton METRO 
station], telephone: (301) 459-6700.
    The official record is available in the Docket for inspection 
during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays at the Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, Rm. 
101, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, telephone: (703) 305-
5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Margie Fehrenbach or Linda 
Murray, Office of Pesticide Programs (7501C), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location, 
telephone number, and e-mail address: Crystal Mall #2, Rm. 1119, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA; telephone: (703) 305-7090; e-mail: 
fehrenbach.margie@epamail.epa.gov or murray.linda@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FQPA, Pub. L.104-170, was passed in 1996, 
this new law strengthens the nation's system for regulating pesticides 
on food. The TRAC will be asked to provide policy guidance on sound 
science, ways to increase transparency in decisionmaking, strategies 
for a reasonable transition for agriculture, and ways to enhance 
consultations with stakeholders, as pesticide tolerances are 
reassessed, including those for organophosphates.
    The TRAC is co-chaired by EPA Deputy Administrator Fred Hansen and 
USDA Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger. The TRAC is composed of experts 
that include farmers, environmentalists, public health officials, 
pediatric experts, pesticide companies, food processors and 
distributors, public interest groups, academicians, and tribal, State, 
and local governments.
    The TRAC meetings are open to the public under section 10(a)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. 92-463. Outside statements 
by observers are welcome. Oral statements will be limited to 2-3 
minutes by only one person per organization. Any person who wishes to 
file a written statement may do so before or after a TRAC meeting. 
These statements will become part of the official record and will be 
provided to the TRAC members. The official record will be available for 
public inspection at the address in ``Addresses'' at the beginning of 
this document.
    Agendas and other background information specific to these 
meetings, as well as information from the previous meetings, can be 
obtained on the EPA TRAC World Wide Web site (http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/trac); or from the Docket (Rm 101, Crystal Mall #2, 
Arlington, VA; telephone (703) 305-5805; or by calling (703) 305-7090.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agriculture, Chemicals, Foods, Pesticides 
and pests.

    Dated: August 26, 1998.
Marcia E. Mulkey,

Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-24149 Filed 9-8-98; 8:45 am]
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