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Draft List of Initial Pesticide Active Ingredients and Pesticide Inerts to be Considered for Screening under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; Extension of Comment Period 

[Federal Register: December 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 73802]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de07-85]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0109; FRL-8346-5]

Draft List of Initial Pesticide Active Ingredients and Pesticide
Inerts to be Considered for Screening under the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; third extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of June 18, 2007,
concerning the draft list of the first group of chemicals that will be
screened in the Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP).
The draft list was produced using the approach described in the
September 2005 notice, and includes chemicals that the Agency, in its
discretion, has decided should be tested first, based upon exposure
potential.The June 18, 2007 Federal Register notice provided for a 90-
day public comment period. EPA extended the comment period an
additional 60 days in the Federal Register of September 12, 2007, and
later extended the comment period for 45 days in the Federal Register
of November 15, 2007. This document is extending the comment period for
a third time for an additional 42 days. The new comment period closes
February 11, 2008.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPPT-2004-0109 must be received on or before February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES
in the Federal Register document of June 18, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Phillips, Office of Science
Coordination and Policy (7203M), Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-1264;
e-mail address: phillips.linda@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    The Agency included in the June 18, 2007 notice a list of those who
may be potentially affected by this action. If you have questions
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity,
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    When preparing comments follow the procedures and suggestions given
in Unit I.B. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the June 18,
2007Federal Register notice.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    To submit comments, or access the public docket, please follow the
detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.B.3. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION of the June 18, 2007 Federal Register notice. If you have
questions, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

    This document extends the public comment period that was originally
established in the Federal Register of June 18, 2007 (72 FR 33486)
(FRL-8129-3), and was extended in the Federal Register of September 12,
2007 (72 FR 52108) (FRL-8146-3), and November 15, 2007 (72 FR 64218)
(FR-8156-9).In the Federal Register notice of June 18, 2007, EPA
announced the draft list of the first group of chemicals that will be
screened in the Agency's EDSP. The draft list was developed using the
approach described in the Federal Register notice of September 27, 2005
(70 FR 56449) (FRL-7716-9). As required by the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), all pesticides must eventually be screened under
the EDSP, and this first group is simply a starting point. Because EPA
developed this draft list of chemicals based upon exposure potential,
it should not be construed as a list of known or likely endocrine
disruptors, and it would be inappropriate to do so. Following
consideration of comments on this draft list of chemicals, EPA will
issue a Federal Register notice containing the final list of chemicals.
EPA is hereby extending the comment period, which was set to end on
December 31, 2007 to February 11, 2008.

III. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 408(p) of FFDCA requires EPA to ``develop a screening
program, using appropriate validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information, to determine whether certain
substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect
produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine
effect as [EPA] may designate.'' (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)). The statute
generally requires EPA to ``provide for the testing of all pesticide
chemicals.'' (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(3)). However, EPA is authorized to
exempt a chemical, by order upon a determination that ``the substance
is anticipated not to produce any effect in humans similar to an effect
produced by a naturally occurring estrogen.'' (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(4)).
``Pesticide chemical'' is defined as ``any substance that is a
pesticide within the meaning of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act, including all active and inert ingredients of such
pesticide.'' (21 U.S.C. 321(q)(1)).

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Endocrine disruptors, Pesticides.

    Dated: December 19, 2007.
James B. Gulliford.
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. E7-25106 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S

 
 

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