[Federal Register: March 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 50)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 13316-13317] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15mr06-34] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 158 and 172 [EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0415; FRL-7767-2] Pesticides; Data Requirements for Biochemical and Microbial Pesticides Proposed Rule; Notice of Public Workshops AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public workshop. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The EPA is convening two public workshops to explain the provisions of its recently proposed rule updating and revising the data requirements for registration of biochemical and microbial pesticides in 40 CFR part 158. These workshops are open to the public. DATES: The first public workshop will be held on March 30, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m in the Washington, DC area. The second public workshop will be held on April 11, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Sacramento, CA area. ADDRESSES: The March 30, 2006 public workshop will be held at the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, Crystal Mall2, Room No. 1126, 1801 S. Bell St, Arlington, VA. The April 11, 2006 public workshop will be held at the UC-Davis Extension, Sutter Square Galleria, Room No. 209, 2901 K St., Sacramento, CA. Visitor information for the April 11, 2006 location may be found at: http://www.metrochamber.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathanael Martin, Field and External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460- 0001; telephone number: 703-305-6475; fax number: 703-305-5884; e-mail address: martin.nathanael@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be affected by this notice if you are a producer or registrant of a biochemical or microbial pesticide product. This proposal also may affect any person or company who might petition the Agency for new tolerances for biochemical or microbial pesticides, or hold a pesticide registration with existing tolerances, or any person or company who is interested in obtaining or retaining a tolerance in the absence of a registration, that is, an import tolerance for biochemical or microbial pesticides. The following is intended as a guide to entities likely to be regulated by this action. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes are provided to assist you in determining whether or not this action applies to you. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: Chemical Producers (NAICS 32532), e.g., pesticide manufacturers or formulators of pesticide products, importers or any person or company who seeks to register a pesticide or to obtain a tolerance for a pesticide. Crop Production (NAICS 111). Animal Production (NAICS 112). [[Page 13317]] Food Manufacturing and Processing (NAICS 311). This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed could also be affected. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, please consult the appropriate Branch Chief in the U.S. EPA Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division of the Office of Pesticide Programs at 703-308-8712, fax number at 703-308-7026 or visit the following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ . B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information? 1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket identification number (ID) EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0415; FRL-7763-4. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically at http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. Bell St., 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. 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/. II. Background EPA is convening two public workshops to review proposed revisions to the data requirements for the registration of biochemical and microbial pesticides. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), anyone seeking to register a pesticide product is required to provide information to EPA that demonstrates their products can be used without posing unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. For food uses, the registrant is required to provide information demonstrating that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from exposures to the residues of their pesticide product. The public workshops will include presentations by staff from the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) and the Field and External Affairs Division (FEAD) of the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). The proposed revisions are primarily directed at biochemical and microbial pesticides, not conventional pesticides, antimicrobial pesticides or product performance data requirements. Nonetheless, all interested parties are welcome and may benefit from the discussions since EPA has issued or is planning to issue revisions to these areas in the future. Some of the proposed revisions apply to the data submission process, e.g., revised policy on data waivers, consultations, and pre/post-submission meetings. During the workshop, persons in attendance will be able to ask questions regarding the material being presented. The proposed revisions were issued in the Federal Register of March 8, 2006, (71 FR 12071) (FRL-7763-4). A 90-day comment period will end on June 6, 2006. A limited number of copies of the proposed rule will be available at the workshop. Attendees are encouraged to access the electronic version of the proposed rule from the regulations.gov Web site under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0415. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Biochemical and microbial pesticides, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: March 8, 2006. James Jones, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E6-3728 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S