Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Interim Risk Management Decision Documents

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the availability of the interim risk management decision document for the organophosphate pesticide fenthion. This decision document has been developed as part of the public participation process that EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are now using for involving the public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual organophosphate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information contact: Carol Stangel, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8007; e-mail address: stangel.carol@epa.gov.

For technical information contact: For questions on the IRED in this document, contact the Chemical Review Manager listed in the table in Unit I.B.2. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the interim risk management decision documents for fenthion , 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. Since other entities also may 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 Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select “Laws and Regulations”, “Regulations and Proposed Rules,” and then look up the entry for this document under the “Federal Register— Environmental Documents.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. In addition, copies of the pesticide interim risk management decision documents released to the public may also be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/REDs.

2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket control numbers OPP-34145C. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period is available for inspection in the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

For questions on the IRED in this document, contact the Chemical Review Manager listed in this table:

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

EPA has assessed the risks of fenthion and reached an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this organophosphate pesticide. The Agency believes that currently registered uses of fenthion pose unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment, and that mitigation measures are necessary. EPA will conduct a public process in the near future to identify the best ways to reduce the risks associated with fenthion exposure. This process will include a public comment period on the risk mitigation proposed in this interim RED, as well as a stakeholder meeting. At the conclusion of this process, the Agency will announce a final determination on the risk mitigation it believes must be adopted in order for products containing fenthion to remain eligible for reregistration.

The interim risk management decision documents for fenthion were made through the organophosphate pesticide pilot public participation process, which increases transparency and maximizes stakeholder involvement in EPA's development of risk assessments and risk management decisions. The pilot public participation process was developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC), which was established in April 1998, as a subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of organophosphate pesticide risk assessments and risk management decisions. EPA and USDA began implementing this pilot process in August 1998, to increase transparency and opportunities for stakeholder consultation.

EPA worked extensively with affected parties to reach the decisions presented in the interim risk management decision document for fenthion . As part of the pilot public participation process, numerous opportunities for public comment were offered as these interim risk management decision documents were being developed. In addition, the Agency will provide further opportunity for public involvement through a stakeholder meeting to discuss risk mitigation options and approaches for fenthion.

The risk assessments for fenthion were released to the public through a notice published in the Federal Register on September 9, 1998 (63 FR 48213) (OPP-34141; FRL-6030-2) and October 14, 1999 (64 FR 55712) (OPP-34145A; FRL-6389-2).

EPA's next step under FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk assessment and risk management decision encompassing all the organophosphate pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. The interim risk management decision documents on fenthion cannot be considered final until this cumulative assessment is complete.

When the cumulative risk assessment for all organophosphate pesticides has been completed, EPA will issue its final tolerance reassessment decision for fenthion and further risk mitigation measures may be needed.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Chemicals
• Pesticides and pests