Rodenticides; Availability of Revised Comparative Ecological Risk Assessment; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register on September 22, 2004, titled “Rodenticides; Availability of Revised Comparative Ecological Risk Assessment.” This notice extends the closing date of the comment period announced in that notice by 60 days, from November 22, 2004, to January 21, 2005.

DATES:

Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-2004-0033, must be received on or before January 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly White, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-8401; e-mail address: white.kelly@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

The Agency included in the 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. 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-2004-0033. 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/ .

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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

To submit comments, or access the official public docket, please follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the September 22, 2004 Federal Register document (69 FR 56756) (FRL-7675-4). 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 established in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56756) (FRL-7675-4). In that document, EPA announced the availability of the revised comparative ecological risk assessment and related documents for nine rodenticides, and opened a 60-day comment period. EPA received many requests for additional time to comment, and therefore is extending the comment period by an additional 60 days. The comment period, which was originally set to end on November 22, 2004, will now close on January 21, 2005.

III. 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.”

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Pesticides and pests