[Federal Register: July 5, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 128)]
[Notices]
[Page 38149-38150]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05jy06-47]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0495; FRL-8062-2]
Imazapyr 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 imazapyr. The Agency's
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the
imazapyr docket. Imazapyr is a systemic, non-selective, pre- and post-
emergent herbicide used for the control of terrestrial annual and
perennial grasses, broad-leaved herbs, woody species, and riparian and
emergent aquatic species. It is registered for use on a variety of
agricultural, commercial, and residential use sites. EPA has reviewed
imazapyr 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: Sherrie Kinard, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-0563; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address:kinard.sherrie@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 a docket for this action under
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0495. Publicly
available docket materials are available either in the electronic
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard
copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 S.
Crystal Drive Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket
Facility are 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.
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, imazapyr under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
Imazapyr is a systemic, non-selective, pre- and post-emergent
herbicide used for the control of terrestrial annual and perennial
grasses, broad-leaved herbs, woody species, and riparian and emergent
aquatic species. It is registered for use on a variety of agricultural,
commercial, and residential use sites, including corn, forestry sites,
rights-of-way, fence rows, hedge rows, drainage systems, outdoor
industrial areas, outdoor buildings and structures, domestic dwellings,
paved areas, driveways, patios, parking areas, walkways, various water
bodies (including ponds, lakes, streams, swamps, wetlands, and stagnant
water), and urban areas.
Imazapyr is formulated as a liquid, a wettable powder (including
water soluble bags), and a granular. Application methods include
aerial, groundboom, boat, and tractor-drawn spreader. Applications to
smaller areas may be made with handheld equipment, including low-
pressure handwand sprayers, backpack sprayers, sprinkling cans, and
handgun sprayers. Application rates range from 0.014 lbs ai/acre on
corn, to 1.5 lbs ai/acre on non-cropped areas and aquatic sites.
EPA has determined that the data base to support reregistration is
substantially complete and that products containing imazapyr are
eligible for reregistration, provided the risks are mitigated in the
manner described in the RED. 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 imazapyr.
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 reassessed the imazapyr
tolerances in 2003 when new food uses were established and has made the
requisite safety finding for the imazapyr tolerances referred to 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
[[Page 38150]]
risk, extent of use, complexity of issues, and degree of public concern
associated with each pesticide. Due to its uses, risks, and other
factors, imazapyr 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
imazapyr.
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. An additional comment period was
not required for imazapyr since all risk issues associated with the use
of this pesticide were resolved through consultations with
stakeholders. The Agency therefore is issuing the imazapyr 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: June 28, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-10449 Filed 7-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S