[Federal Register: September 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 182)]
[Notices]
[Page 55385-55386]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se05-72]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0411; FRL-7737-6]
Ametryn Reregistration Eligibility Decision
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide ametryn. The Agency's risk
assessments and other related documents also are available in the
ametryn Docket. Ametryn is a triazine herbicide used on field corn,
popcorn, pineapple, and sugarcane. EPA has reviewed ametryn through the
public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public
in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment
decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides
meet current health and safety standards.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark T. Howard, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8172; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: howard.markt@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
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution,
or use of pesticides. Since others 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 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-2004-0411. 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
[[Page 55386]]
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 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. 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.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA
has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
pesticide, ametryn under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Ametryn, a
triazine herbicide, is used on field corn, popcorn, pineapple, and
sugarcane. EPA has determined that the data base to support
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing
ametryn are eligible for reregistration provided the risks are
mitigated either in the manner described in the RED or by another means
that achieves equivalent risk reduction. Upon submission of any
required product-specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) and any
necessary changes to the registration and labeling either to address
concerns identified in the RED or as a result of product-specific data,
EPA will make a final reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C)
for products containing ametryn.
EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in
August 1996, to ensure that these existing pesticide residue limits for
food and feed commodities meet the safety standard established by the
new law. Tolerances are considered reassessed once the safety finding
has been made or a revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the
requisite safety finding for the ametryn tolerances included in this
notice.
EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2004 (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9), explains that in conducting these
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, ametryn was reviewed through
the modified 4-Phase public participation process. Through this
process, EPA worked extensively with stakeholders and the public to
reach the regulatory decisions for ametryn.
The reregistration program is being conducted under
Congressionally mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both
to make timely decisions and to involve the public. Few substantive
comments were received during the earlier comment period. Further, for
this pesticide, all issues related to this pesticide were resolved
through consultations with stakeholders. The Agency, therefore, is
issuing the Ametryn RED without a comment period.
B. 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.''
Section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and
exemptions for pesticide residues in effect as of August 2, 1996, to
determine whether the tolerance or exemption meets the requirements of
section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review is to be completed by
August 3, 2006.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: September 14, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-18706 Filed 9-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S