[Federal Register: March 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 49)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 12013-12014]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13mr03-22]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Chapter I
[OPP-2003-0010; FRL-7298-9]
RIN 2070-AD72
Endangered Species and Pesticide Regulation; Reopening of Comment
Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: This document reopens the public comment period established in
an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) issued in the Federal
Register of January 24, 2003. In that document, EPA sought comment on
an ANPR for an endangered species and pesticide regulation. EPA is
hereby reopening the comment period, which ended on March 10, 2003. The
new comment period will end March 25, 2003.
DATES: Comments, identified by the docket ID number OPP-2003-0010, must
be received on or before March 25, 2003.
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 of the January 24,
2003 Federal Register document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur-Jean Williams, Field and
External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-5239; fax
number: (703) 308-3259; e-mail address: williams.arty@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
particular interest to persons who manufacture, sell or use pesticides
or who are part of a State or Tribe engaged in the regulation of
pesticide products and to groups interested in environmental
regulation. 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 Arthur-Jean Williams at the telephone number/e-mail address
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 identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0010. 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,
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 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/. A frequently updated
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. A frequently updated
electronic version of 40 CFR Chapter I is available at http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_40/40cfr1_00.html
, a
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_40/40cfr1_00.html, a
beta site currently under development.
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
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
[[Page 12014]]
docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket
materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of
the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility
identified in Unit I.B.1. 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. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the January 24, 2003 Federal Register
document. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
II. Background
On January 24, 2003, EPA, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife
Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and National Marine Fisheries
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, issued a Federal Register document (68 FR 3785)
(FRL-7287-3) seeking public comment on an ANPR for an endangered
species and pesticide regulation.
Among the comments received thus far was a request, signed by 30
groups, for an extension of the comment period by 45 days. While the
agencies appreciate the need to provide adequate opportunity for public
input, the agencies believe a shorter extension is warranted for
several reasons. First, numerous comments were already received during
the original comment period. Second, the January 24, 2003 Federal
Register notice was an ANPR. Thus, the public will have further
opportunity to comment with future publication of a notice of proposed
rulemaking.
III. What Action is EPA Taking?
Since EPA has an electronic docket system that allows distribution
of materials more easily to interested persons, EPA agreed to take
responsibility for all of the administrative duties related to
publication of the ANPR and this document, including the creation of a
public docket, receipt of public comments, and other related matters.
Therefore, EPA, on behalf of the three agencies, hereby reopens the
comment period, which ended on March 10, 2003. The new comment period
will end March 25, 2003.
IV. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
The ANPR was issued under the authority of section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA), as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7
U.S.C. 136 et seq.
V. Do Any Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Apply to this Action?
No. This action merely extends the date by which public comments
must be submitted to EPA on an ANPR that previously published in the
Federal Register of January 24, 2003 (68 FR 3785). For information
about the applicability of the regulatory assessment requirements to
the ANPR, please refer to the discussion in Unit IV. of that document
(68 FR 3785).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Endangered species, Pesticides.
Dated: March 10, 2003,
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 03-6188 Filed 3-11-03; 2:49 pm]
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