Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Proposed Public Participation Process; Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice; reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces EPA's extension of the comment period for the proposal for a public participation process for pesticide tolerance reassessment and reregistration. This proposal is in response to a joint initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase transparency and stakeholder involvement in the development of pesticide risk assessments and risk management documents and decisions. EPA and USDA have been actively employing a pilot public participation process for tolerance reassessment and reregistration of organophosphate pesticides for over 1 year (since August 1998), which was developed in consultation with the Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC). Consideration must now be given as to whether this public participation process or some modification of it should be adopted as the final process, and whether it should be used for tolerance reassessment and reregistration of all pesticides.

DATES:

Comments, identified by the docket control number OPP-00645A, must be received on or before May 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-00645A in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Angulo, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8004; fax number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public in general; however, a wide range of stakeholders will be interested in submitting comments on the public participation process that EPA is proposing for tolerance reassessment and reregistration, 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. As such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 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” 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/.

To access information about the pilot public participation process that is now being used for the organophosphate pesticides, you can also go directly to the Office of Pesticide Programs' (OPP) organophosphate pesticide web page at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/.

2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket control number OPP-00645A. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

As described in Unit III. A. of the notice published in the Federal Register of March 15, 2000 (65 FR 14199) (FRL-6496-2), you may submit your comments through the mail, in person, or electronically. Please follow the instructions that are provided in the proposed rule. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify docket control number OPP-00645A in the subject line on the first page of your response.

1. By mail. Submit comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvannia Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver comments to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

3. Electronically. Submit electronic comments by e-mail to: “opp-docket@epa.gov,” or you can submit a computer disk as described in this unit. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on standard computer disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by the docket control number OPP-00645A. Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the official record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you used.

3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used that support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.

6. Offer alternative ways to improve the proposed rule or collection activity.

7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this reopening of the proposed rule comment period.

8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

EPA is extending the public comment period on the proposal for a public participation process for pesticide tolerance reassessment and reregistration. This proposed public participation process was developed with USDA.

Public comment received as a result of this notice will be considered by EPA and USDA and a final public participation process will be developed and released to the public in a notice published in the Federal Register. Implementation of the final public participation process will begin according to a schedule established and published in the final notice.

III. Do Any Regulatory Assessment Requirements Apply to this Action?

No. This action is not a rulemaking, it merely extends the date by which public comments must be submitted to EPA on a proposed pesticide public participation process that previously published in the Federal Register of March 15, 2000 (65 FR 14199) (FRL-6496-2).

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Chemicals
• Pesticides and pests