[Federal Register: August 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 49447-49448]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23au06-62]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0497; FRL-8084-5]
Propiconazole 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
propiconazole. The Agency's risk assessments and other related
documents also are available in the propiconazole docket. Propiconazole
is used as a conventional fungicide on agricultural crops, ornamentals,
and turf and is used as an antimicrobial material preservative and wood
preservative. EPA has reviewed propiconazole 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: Christina Scheltema, Special Review
and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2201; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: scheltema.christina@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-OPP-2005-0497. 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
[[Page 49448]]
holidays. The Docket Facility 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 propiconazole under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
Propiconazole is used as a conventional fungicide on agricultural
crops, ornamentals, and turf and is used as an antimicrobial material
preservative and wood preservative. EPA has determined that the
database to support reregistration is substantially complete and that
currently registered products containing propiconazole 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
propiconazole.
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 propiconazole tolerances.
Although the Propiconazole RED was signed on July 18, 2006, certain
components of the document, which did not affect the final regulatory
decision, were undergoing final editing at that time. These components,
including the list of additional generic data requirements, summary of
labeling changes, appendices, and other relevant information, have been
added to the Propiconazole RED document.
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, propiconazole 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 propiconazole.
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. Because few substantive comments
were received during the earlier comment period for this pesticide, and
all issues related to this pesticide were resolved through
consultations with stakeholders, no comment period is needed on this
regulatory decision. The Agency therefore is issuing the Propiconazole
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, Material preservatives, Pesticides and
pests, Propiconazole, Triazole fungicides, Wood preservatives.
Dated: August 14, 2006.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-13859 Filed 8-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S