[Federal Register: December 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 76828-76829]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de05-116]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0176; FRL-7748-8]
Mancozeb Reregistration Eligibility Decision
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide mancozeb. The Agency's
risk assessments and other related documents are also available in the
mancozeb Docket. Mancozeb is a member of the ethylene
bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) group of fungicides, which also includes the
related fungicides maneb and metiram. Mancozeb is used as a broad
spectrum fungicide on a variety of agricultural crops, ornamentals, and
turf. As a part of this process, the Agency announced the availability
of the EBDCs preliminary risk assessments and supporting documents for
a 90-day comment period and requested risk reduction options under
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP;2004-0078. Through these
programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and
safety standards.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Scheltema, Special Review
and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2201; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: scheltema.christina@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution,
or use of pesticides. Since others may also be interested, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, 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 ID number OPP-2005-0176. 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, 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/.
EDOCKET, epa's electronic public docket and comment system was
replaced on November 25, 2005, by an enhanced Federal-wide electronic
docketmanagement and comment system located at http://www.regulations.gov/.
Follow the on-line instructions
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 submit or 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. Once in the system, select ``search''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide
[[Page 76829]]
Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to ensure that
they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA has
completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
pesticide, mancozeb under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Mancozeb is an
EBDC fungicide used on a variety of agricultural crops, ornamentals,
and turf. EPA has determined that the data base to support
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing
mancozeb are eligible for reregistration depending on their specific
uses, provided that the risk mitigation measures outlined in the RED
are adopted, and labels are amended to reflect these measures.
Registrants have requested cancellations and/or deletions of mancozeb
use as a foliar treatment for cotton, use in pineapple propagation, and
use on residential lawns, athletic fields, and pachysandra; these uses
are not eligible for reregistration. Upon submission of any required
product specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) and any necessary
changes to the registration and labeling (either to address concerns
identified in the RED or as a result of product specific data), EPA
will make a final reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C) for
products containing mancozeb.
EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in
August 1996, to ensure that these existing pesticide residue limits for
food and feed commodities meet the safety standard established by the
new law. Tolerances are considered reassessed once the safety finding
has been made or a revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the
requisite safety finding for the mancozeb tolerances included in this
notice.
EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2004, (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9) explains that in conducting these
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, mancozeb was reviewed
through the modified 4-Phase public participation process. Through this
process, EPA worked extensively with stakeholders and the public to
reach the regulatory decisions for mancozeb.
The reregistration program is being conducted under
Congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both
to make timely decisions and to involve the public. Opportunities for
public comment were offered as this decision was being developed.
Additionally, all issues related to this pesticide were resolved
through consultations with stakeholders. The Agency, therefore, is
issuing the mancozeb RED without a comment period.
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended 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.''
Section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and
exemptions for pesticide residues in effect as of August 2, 1996, to
determine whether the tolerance or exemption meets the requirements of
section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review is to be completed by
August 3, 2006.
List of Subjects
Mancozeb, EBDC fungicides, Environmental protection, Pesticides
and pests.
Dated: December 15, 2005.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-24465 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S